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Vvb\£.OT.   Jo\3.  EagVisVi.     iS&7 


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1* 


THE 


BOOK  OF  JOB 


FROM  THE  ORIGINAL  HEBREW 


ON  THE  BASIS  OF  THE 


COMMON  AND  EARLIER  ENGLISH  VERSIONS. 


Belo  ^orh; 


AMERICAN     BIBLE      UNION, 
1857. 


Eatered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 
THE  AMERICAN.  BIBLK  UNION, 

in  the  Cier'i's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


MILLER  &  HOLM  AN. 

Printers  and  Stereotjpera,  New  York. 


THE  BOOK   OF    JOB. 


There  was  a  man  in  the  land  of  Uz,  whose 
name  was  Job.  This  man  was  perfect  and  iij)right, 
and  one  who  feared  God  and  shunned  evil.  There 
were  born  to  him  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 
His  substance  was  seven  thousand  sheep  and  goats, 
and  three  thousand  camels,  and  five  hundred  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  five  hundred  she-asses,  and  very  many 
servants.  And  this  man  was  great,  above  all  the 
sons  of  the  East. 

Now  his  sons  went  and  held  a  feast,  at  the 
house  of  each,  on  his  day;  and  they  sent,  and 
invited  their  three  sisters,  to  eat  and  to  drink  with 
them.  And  when  they  had  let  the  feast-days  go 
round.  Job  sent  and  parified  them.  And  he  rose 
early  in  the  mornijig,  and  offered  burnt-offerings, 
according  to  the  number  of  them  all :  for  Job  said, 

V.  5.  'when  —  round':  Avhen  the  feast-days  had  gone 
round 

1 


JOB.  Chap.  i. 

it  may  be  that  my  sons  have  sinned,  and  have  for- 
saken God  in  their  hearts.  Thus  did  Job  con- 
tinually. 

Now  it  was  the  day,  when  the  Sons  of  God 
came  to  present  themselves  before  Jehovah;  and 
Satan  also  came  among  them.  And  Jehovah  said 
to  Satan :  From  whence  comest  thou  ?  And  Satan 
answered  Jehovah  and  said:  From  roaming  over  the 
earth,  and  from  wallving  about  upon  it.  And  Jeho- 
vah said  to  Satan :  Hast  thou  observed  my  servant 
Job,  that  there  is  none  like  to  him  on  the  earth, 
a  perfect  and  upright  man,  one  that  foareth  God 
and  shunneth  evil  ?  And  Satan  answered  Jehovah 
and  said :  For  naught,  doth  Job  fear  God  ?  Hast 
not  thou  hedged  him  about,  and  his  house,  and  all 
that  he  hath,  on  every  side  ?  The  work  of  his 
hands  thou  hast  blessed,  and  his  substance  is  spread 
abroad  in  the  earth.  But,  j)ut  forth  now  thy  hand 
and  touch  all  that  he  hath, — if  he  will  not  renounce 
thee,  to  thy  face  !  And  Jehovah  said  to  Satan : 
Lo,  all  that  he  hath  is  in  thy  power;  only,  against 

V.  5.  '  forsaken ' :  renounced 

V.  6.  '  it  was  the  day,  when ' :  it  happened  at  that  time,  that 

lb.    '  Satan ' :  the  Adversary  V.  8.  '  that ' :  for 

V.  11.  'earth':  land  lb.  'touch':  smite 

lb.  •  if  he  will  not ' :  verilj,  he  will 
V.  12.  '  Satan  ' :  the  Adversary 
2 


JOB.  Chap.  i. 


himself  do  not  put  forth  thy  hand.     And  Satan 
went  out  from  the  presence  of  Jehovah. 

Now  it  was  the  day,  that  his  sons  and  his 
daughters  were  eating,  and  drinking  wine,  in  the 
house  of  their  brother,  the  first-born.  And  there 
came  a  messenger  to  Job,  and  said:  The  cattle 
were  ploughing,  and  the  she-asses  were  grazing 
beside  them;  and  Sabaeans  fell  upon  and  took 
them  ;  and  the  servants  they  have  smitten  with 
the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  only  I  alone  escaped  to 
tell  thee. 

Whilst  he  was  still  speaking,  there  came  an- 
other, and  said  :  The  fire  of  God  fell  from  heaven, 
and  burned  the  flocks  and  the  servants,  and  con- 
sumed them;    and  only  I  alone  escaped  to  tell 

thee. 

Whilst  he  was  still  speaking,  there  came  an- 
other, and  said:  Chaldaeans  formed  three  bands, 
and  set  upon  the  camels  and  took  them ;  and  the 
servants  they  have  smitten  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword,  and  only  I  alone  escaped  to  tell  thee. 

Whilst  he  was  still  speaking,  there  came  an- 
other, and  said  :  Thy  sons  and  thy  daughters  were 
eating,  and  drinking  wine,  in  the  house  of  their 


V.  13.  4t  was  the  cUy,  that':  it  happened  at  that  time, 

that 

3 


JOB.  Chap.  ii. 

brother,  the  first-born.  And  lo,  there  came  a 
great  wind  from  beyond  the  wilderness,  and  struck 
upon  the  four  corners  of  the  house,  so  that  it  fell 
on  the  young  men,  and  they  died ;  and  only  I  alone 
escaped  to  tell  thee. 

Then  Job  arose,  and  rent  his  garment,  and 
shaved  his  head ;  and  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and 
worshipped.  And  he  said :  Naked  came  I  forth 
from  my  mother's  womb,  and  naked  shall  I  return 
thither.  Jehovah  gave,  and  Jehovah  hath  taken 
away ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  Jehovah  ! 

In  all  this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  uttered  folly 
against  God. 

Now  it  was  the  day,  when  the  Sons  of  God 
came  to  present  themselves  before  Jehovah ;  and 
Satan  also  came  among  them,  to  present  himself 
before  Jehovah.  Then  said  Jehovah  to  Satan: 
From  whence  comest  thou?  Satan  answered 
Jehovah,  and  said :  From  roaming  over  the  earth, 
and  from  walking  about  upon  it.  Then  said 
Jehovah  to  Satan :  Hast  thou  observed  my  servant 
Job,  that  there  is  none  like  to  him  on  the  earth, 
a  man  perfect  and  upright,  one  that  feareth  God 

V.  22.  '  folly  against ' :  any  thing  offensive  to 
V.  1.  'it  was  the  day,  when ' :  it  happened  at  that  time, 
that  lb.  'Satan':  the  Adversary  V.  3.  'that':  for 

4 


JOB.  Chap.  n. 

and  shimneth  evil  ?  And  still  lie  holds  fast  Ms  in- 
tegrity, though  thou  didst  move  me  against  him, 
to  destroy  him  without  cause. 

Satan  answered  Jehovah,  and  said :  Skin  for 
skin ;  and  all  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for 
his  life.  Bat,  stretch  forth  now  thy  hand  and 
touch  his  bone  and  his  flesh;  if  he  will  not  re- 
nounce thee,  to  thy  face!  And  Jehovah  said  to 
Satan:  Lo,  he  is  in  thy  hand;  only,  spare  his  life. 

And  Satan  w^ent  out  from  the  presence  of 
Jehovah,  and  smote  Job  with  grievous  ulcers, 
from  the  sole  of  his  foot  to  his  crown.  And  he 
took  a  potsherd  to  scrape  himself  therewith,  as 
he  sat  among  the  ashes.  Then  said  his  wife  to 
him:  Dost  thou  still  hold  fast  thy  integrity? 
Bless  God,  and  die  !  And  he  said  to  her :  Thou 
speakest  as  one  of  the  foolish  w^omen  speaks. 
The  good  shall  we  receive  from  God,  and  shall 
w^e  not  receive  the  evil  ?  In  all  this,  Job  sinned 
not  w^ith  his  lips. 

V.  3.  '  though '  &c, :  and  thou  didst  move  me  against  him,  to 
destroy  him,  in  vain.  V.  4.  '  Satan ' :  the  Adversary 

V.  5.  '  if  he  will  not ' :  verily,  he  will 

V.  9.  '  bless  ' :  renounce 

V.  10.  The  good  we  receive  from  God,  and  shall  we  not  re- 
ceive the  evil  ? 

5 


JOB.  Chap.  hi. 

Now  three  friends  of  Job  heard  of  all  this  evil 
that  had  come  upon  him.  And  fchey  came  each 
from  his  place,  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  Bildad 
the  Shnhite,  and  Zophar  tlie  Naamathite;  for  they 
had  concerted  together,  to  go  and  mourn  with  him, 
and  comfort  him.  They  raised  their  eyes  afar  off, 
and  knew  him  not;  and  they  wept  aloud,  and  rent 
each  one  his  garment,  and  strowed  dust  upon  their 
heads  toward  heaven.  And  they  sat  down  with 
him  upon  the  earth,  seven  days  and  seven  nights ; 
and  none  spoke  a  word  to  him,  for  they  saw  that 
the  affliction  was  very  great. 

Afterward,  Job  opened  his  mouth,  and  cursed 
his  day.     And  Job  answered,  and  said : 

Perish  the  day,  wherein  I  was  born; 
and  the  night,  which  said:    A  manchild   is  con- 
That  day,  let  it  be  darkness:  [ceived! 
let  not  God  from  above  seek  for  it, 
nor  light  shine  forth  upon  it. 
Let  darkness  and  death-shade  reclaim  it; 
let  clouds  rest  upon  it; 
let  darkenings  of  the  day  aflright  it. 

V.  11.  'place':  home 

lb.  'for — together':  and  met  together  as  they  had  ap- 
pointed 

V.  3.  '  which  said  ' :  it  was  said  Y.  4.  '  seek  ' :  care 

G 


JOB.  Chap.  m. 


That  night,  thick  darkness  seize  npon  it! 

let  it  not  rejoice  among  the  days  of  the  year, 

nor  come  into  the  number  of  the  months. 

Lo,  let  that  night  be  barren, 

and  ne  sound  of  joy  enter  therein. 

Let  them  that  curse  days,  curse  it; 

they  that  are  skilled  to  rouse  up  the  leviathan. 

Let  the  stars  of  its  twilight  be  dark; 

let  it  wait  for  light,  and  there  be  none; 

neither  let  it  behold  the  eyelids  of  the  morning. 

Because  it  did  not  shut  the  doors  of  the  womb  that 

and  hide  sorrow  from  my  eyes.  [bore  me, 

Wherefore  did  I  not  die  from  the  womb- 
come  forth  from  the  womb,  and  Expire? 
Why  were  the  knees  ready  for  me, 
and  why  the  breasts,  that  I  might  suck? 
For  now,  I  had  lain  down  and  should  be  at  rest ; 
I  had  slept,  then  would  there  be  repose  for  me: 
with  kings,  and  counsellors  of  the  earth, 
who  have  built  themselves  ruins: 
or  with  princes,  who  had  gold, 
who  filled  their  houses  with  silver: 
or  like  a  hidden  untimely-birth,  I  should  not  be; 
as  infants  that  never  see  light. 


V.  6.  '  rejoice  among ' :  be  joined  to  (V.  R.) 
V.  8.  '  to  rouse'  &c.:  to  call  forth  the  serpent 

7 


JOB.  Chap.  III. 

There,  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 

and  there,  the  weary  are  at  rest. 

The  prisoners  all  are  at  ease; 

they  hear  not  the  taskmaster's  voice. 

Small  and  great,  both  are  there; 

and  the  servant  is  free  from  his  master. 

Wherefore  gives  He  light  to  the  wretched, 
and  life  to  the  sorrowful  in  heart; 
who  long  for  death,  and  it  comes  not, 
and  search  for  it  more  than  for  hidden  treasures ; 
who  are  joyful,  even  to  exulting, 
are  glad,  when  they  find  the  grave: — 
to  a  man,  whose  way  is  hidden, 
and  God  hedgcth  about  him? 
For  with  my  food,  comes  my  sighing; 
and  my  moans  are  poured  forth  as  water. 
For  I  feared  evil,  and  it  has  overtaken  me; 
and  that  which  I  dreaded,  is  come  upon  me. 
I  was  not  at  ease;  nor  was  I  secure; 
nor  was  I  at  rest;  yet  trouble  came. 


V.  19.  '  both  are  thgre ' :  are  there  the  same 

V.  24.  For  as  food  for  me  ;  or,  For  before  my  food 

V.  25.  For  the  evil  which  I  fear  overtakes  me, 

and  that  which  I  dread  comes  upon  me. 
V.  2G.  I  have  no  ease,  nor  quiet ; 

I  have  no  rest,  yet  trouble  comes. 
8 


JOB.  Chap.  iv. 

Then  answered  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  said: 
Should  one  venture  a  word  to  thee,  wilt  t'.ou  be 
But  who  can  forbear  speaking!   '  [offended? 

Lo,  thou  hast  admonished  many, 
and  hast  strengthened  the  feeble  hands. 
Thy  words  have  confirmed  the  faltering, 
and  the  sinking  knees  thou  hast  made  strong. 
But  now,  it  is  come  to  thee  and  thou  faintest; 
it  touches  thee,  and  thou  art  confounded. 

Is  not  thy  fear  thy  confidence? 
Thy  hope,  it  is  the  uprightness  of  thy  ways. 
Kemember  now,  who  that  was  guiltless  has  perished? 
and  where  were  the  righteous  cut  off? 
As  I  have  seen:  they  that  plough  iniquity, 
and  that  sow  mischief,  reap  the  same. 
By  the  breath  of  God  they  perish; 
and  by  the  blast  of  his  anger  are  they  consumed. 
The  lion's  cry,  and  the  voice  of  the  roaring  lion, 
and  the  teeth  of  the  young  lions,  are  broken. 
The  strong  lion  perishes  for  lack  of  prey, 
and  the  lioness'  whelps  are  scattered. 

Now  a  word  was  stealthily  brought  to  me, 
and  my  ear  caught  the  whisper  thereof. 
In  thoughts  from  visions  of  the  night, 
when  deep  sleep  falls  upon  men; 

V.  6.  '  fear  ' :  piety 


JOB.  Chap.  v. 

fear  came  upon  me,  and  trembling, 

which  made  all  my  bones  to  shake. 

Then  a  spirit  passed  before  me: 

the  hair  of  my  flesh  rose  up. 

It  stood  still,  but  I  could  not  discern  its  form; 

an  image  was  before  my  eyes; 

there  was  silence;  and  I  heard  a  voice: — 

Shall  man  be  more  just  than  God? 

shall  a  man  be  more  pure  than  his  Maker? 

Lo,  he  trusteth  not  in  his  servants, 

and  to  his  angels  he  imputeth  folly. 

Much  more,  they  who  dwell  in  houses  of  clay, 

whose  foundation  is  in  the  dust, 

who  are  crushed  like  the  moth. 

From  morning  to  evening  they  are  destroyed, 

so  that,  unheeded,  they  perish  forever. 

Is  not  their  excellency  taken  away  with  them? 

they  die,  and  without  wisdom. 

Call  now;  is  there  any  that  will  answer  thee? 
and  unto  whom,  of  the  holy,  wilt  thou  turn? 

V.  IG.  '  there — voice ' :  and  I  heard  a  low  voice 
V.  17.  '  more  just  than ' :  just  before 

lb.    '  more  pure  than  ' :  pure  before 
V.  19.  '  crushed  Uke  ' :  consumed  as  by 
V.  20.  '  so  that  unheeded  ' :  because  none  heedeth 
V.  21.  Is  not  their  excellency  in  them  taken  away? — Others: 
Is  not  their  cord  in  them  torn  away  ? 
10 


JOB.  Chap.  v. 

For  grief  slayeth  the  foolish, 

and  envy  killeth  the  simple. 

I  have  myself  seen  the  wicked  taking  root; 

but  soon,  I  cursed  his  habitation. 

His  children  are  far  from  safety;  [deliverer. 

they  are  oppressed  in  the  gate,  and  there  is  no 

Whose  harvest  the  hungry  shall  devour, 

and  take  it,  even  out  from  the  thorns: 

and  the  snare  is  gaping  for  their  substance. 

For  evil  goes  not  forth  from  the  dust, 
nor  does  trouble  sprout  up  from  the  ground; 
for  man  is  born  to  trouble, 
even  as  sparks  fly  upward. 
But  I,  to  God  would  I  seek; 
and  unto  God  commit  my  cause. 
Who  doeth  great  things,  and  unsearchable; 
things  wonderful,  without  number. 
Who  giveth  rain  on  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  sendeth  water  on  the  face  of  the  fields. 
He  sets  the  humble  on  high,  '; 
and  the  mourning  are  raised  to  prosperity. 
He  breaks  up  the  devices  of  the  crafty, 
that  their  hands  shall  not  do  the  thing  purposed. 


V.  5.  '  the  snare  is  gaping ' :  the  thirsty  long 
V.  7.  '  sparks ' :  birds  of  prey 
11 


JOB.  Chap.  v. 

He  ensnares  the  wise  in  their  craftiness, 

and  the  counsel  of  the  cunning  is  made  hasty: 

by  day,  they  meet  darkness, 

and  grope  at  noonday,  as  in  the  night. 

So  he  rescues  the  victim  from- their  mouth, 

and  the  needy  from  the  hand  of  the  strong. 

Thus  there  is  hope  to  the  weak, 

and  iniquity  shuts  her  mouth. 

Lo,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correcteth; 
therefore,  spurn  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the 
For  he  woundeth,  and  bindeth  up,         [Almighty, 
he  smiteth,  and  his  hands  make  whole. 
In  six  troubles,  he  will  deliver  thee; 
yea  in  seven,  there  shall  no  evil  befall  thee. 
In  famine,  he  will  free  thee  from  death, 
and  in  war,  from  the  power  of  the  sword. 
From  the  scourge  of  the  tongue  thou  shalt  be  hidden, 
and  shalt  not  be  afraid  of  destruction  when  it  cometh . 
At  destruction  and  at  famine  thou  shalt  laugh ;  [afraid, 
and  of  the  beasts  of  the  earth  thou  needst  not  be 
For  with  the  stones  of  the  field  shalt  thou  be  in  league, 
and  the  beasts  of  the  field  shall  be  at  peace  with  thee. 
So  shalt  thou  know,  that  thy  tent  is  in  peace, 
and  shalt  visit  thy  pastures,  and  miss  nothing. 

V.  15.    So  he  rescues,  from  tlie  sword,  from  their  month, — 
and  from  the  hand  of  the  strong, — the  needy.  (V.  R.) 
12 


JOB.  Chap.  vi. 

And  thou  slialt  know,  that  numerous  is  thy  seed, 
and  thy  offspring  as  the  green  herb  of  the  earth. 
Thou  shalt  come  to  the  grave  in  hoary  age, 
as  the  sheaf  is  gathered  in,  in  its  season. 

Lo  this,  we  have  searched  it  out;  so  it  is: 
hear  it,  and  know  thou,  for  thyself. 

Then  answered  Job,  and  said: 
O  that  my  grief  could  be  fully  weighed, 
and  all  my  calamity  be  laid  in  the  balances. 
For  now,  it  would  be  heavier  than  the  sands  of  the 
for  this  cause,  my  words  have  been  rash.         [sea ; 
For  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  are  v/ithin  me, 
whose  poison  drinketh  up  my  spirit: 
the  terrors  of  God  array  themselves  against  me. 

Does  the  wild-ass  bray,  by  the  fresh  grass ; 
or  lows  the  ox,  at  his  fodder? 
Can  that  which  is  tasteless  be  eaten  without  salt, 
or  is  there  any  relish  in  the  white  of  an  egg"^. 
My  soul  refuses  to  touch! 
they  are  as  food  which  I  loathe. 

0  that  my  request  might  come; 
that  God  would  grant  my  longing: 


V.  2.  0  that  my  grief  could  but  be  weighed, 

and  with  it,  my  calamity  be  laid  in  the  balances. 
V.  6.  or  is  there  flavor  in  the  tasteless  herb  ? 
13 


JOB.  Chap.  vi. 

and  that  it  would  please  God  to  destroy  me; 
that  he  would  let  loose  his  hand,  and  cut  me  off. 
For  it  should  still  be  my  solace, 
yea  I  would  exult,  in  pain  that  spares  not, 
that  I  have  not  denied  the  words  of  the  Holy  One. 

What  is  my  strength,  that  I  should  hope, 
and  what  is  my  end,  that  I  should  be  yet  patient? 
Is  my  strength  the  strength  of  stones, 
or  is  my  flesh  of  brass? 
Is  not  my  help  within  me  gone, 
and  recovery  driven  away  from  me?  [ing. 

Kindness,  from  his  friend,  is  due  to  the  despair- 
ready  to  forsake  the  fear  of  the  Ahnighty. 
My  brethren  are  deceitful,  like  the  brook, 
as  the  channel  of  brooks  that  pass  away : 
that  become  turbid,  from  ice; 
the  snow  hides  itself  in  them. 
At  the  time  they  are  poured  oft',  they  fail; 
when  it  is  hot,  they  are  consumed  from  their  place. 
The  caravans,  along  their  way,  turn  aside; 
they  go  up  into  the  wastes,  and  perish. 

V.  10.  So  that  I  might  yet  have  consolation,     lb.  and  exult 
lb.  for  I  have  not  V.  11.  '  hope  ' :  wait 

V.  13.  '  recovery  ' :   deliverance  ;  or^  succor 
V.  14.  To  the  despairing,  kindness  is  due  from  his  friend; 

lb.  else  he  will  forsake  &c. 
V.  15.  as  the  valley-brooks,  they  pass  away 
V.  18.  '  along '  &c. :  turn  aside,  on  their  way 
14 


JOB.  Chap.  vi. 


The  caravans  of  Tema  looked; 
the  companies  of  Sheba  hoped  for  them: 
they  were  ashamed  that  they  had  trusted; 
they  came  thither,  and  were  confounded. 

For  now,  ye  are  become  nothing: 
ye  see  a  terror,  and  are  dismayed. 
Have  I  said:  Give  to  me; 
or.  Bestow  of  your  wealth  for  my  sake: 
or,  Deliver  me  from  an  enemy's  hand, 
and  from  the  hand  of  the  violent  set  me  free? 

Teach  ye  me, — and  I  will  keep  silence; 
and  make  me  know  wherein  I  have  erred. 
How  forcible  are  right  words! 
but  what  does  your  upbraiding  prove? 
Do    ye    intend  to    censure  words, 
when  the  words  of  the  despairing  are  as  wind?    4 
Ye  would  even  cast  lots  for  the  orphan,  k 

and  dig  a  pit  for  your  friend.  ' 

And  now,  consent  to  look  upon  me; 
for  I  will  not  speak  falsely  to  your  face. 
Keturn  I  pray;  let  there  IW  no  wrong: 
yea  return^  I  yet  have  a  righteous  cause. 
Is  there  wrong  in  my  tongue? 
cannot  my  taste  discern  what  is  perverse? 


V.  28.  for  it  is  manifest  to  you,  if  I  lie. 
15 


JOB.  Chap.  vii. 

Has  not  man  a  term  of  warfare  on  the  earth, 
and  are  not  his  days  as  the  days  of  a  hireling? 
As  the  servant  pants  for  the  shadow, 
and  as  the  hireling  longs  for  his  wages; 
so  I  am  allotted  months  of  wretchedness, 
and  wearisome  nights  are  appointed  me. 
When  I  lie  down,  I  say  : 
when  shall  I  arise,  and  the  night  be  gone! 
and  I  am  wearied  with  tossings,  till  the  morning. 
My  flesh  is  clothed  with  rottenness,  and  clods  of 
my  skin  closes  up,  and  breaks  out  afresh,     [earth; 
My  days  are  swifter  than  a  weaver's  shuttle, 
and  consume  avray,  without  hope. 

Remember,  that  my  life  is  a  breath; 
my  eye  shall  not  again  see  good.  [more; 

The  eye  of  him  that  seeth  me,  shall  behold  me  no 
thine  eyes  will  seek  me,  but  I  shall  not  be. 
The  cloud  consumes  away,  and  is  gone; 
so  he  that  goes  down  to  the  under-world,  shall  not 
He  shall  not  return  again  to  his  house,       [come  up. 
and  his  place  shall  know  him  no  more. 

As  for  me,  I  will  not  restrain  my  mouth; 
I  will  speak,  in  the  anguish  of  my  spirit ; 
I  will  complain  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul. 

V.  1.  '  warfare ' :  service 

V.  4.  '  and  the  night  be  gone  ' :  for  long  is  the  night 
V.  5.  '  rottenness  ' :  worms 
16 


JOB.  Chap.  vii. 

Am  I  a  sea,  or  a  monster  of  the  deep, 

that  thou  shouldst  set  a  watch  over  me? 

When  I  say:  My  bed  shall  comfort  me,  . 

my  couch  shall  lighten  my  complaint; 

then  thou  scarest  me  with  dreams, 

and  terrifiest  me  by  visions. 

So  that  ray  soul  chooseth  strangling, — 

death,  rather  than  my  bones  ! 

I  waste  away ;  I  shall  not  always  live ; 

cease  from  me ;  for  my  days  are  a  vapor. 

What  is  man,  that  thou  shouldst  magnify  him, 
and  set  thy  thoughts  upon  him; 
that  thou  shouldst  visit  him  every  morning, 
shouldst,  every  moment,  try  him? 
How  long  -wilt  thou  not  look  away  from  me, 
nor  let  me  alone,  till  I  can  swallow  my  spittle? 
If  I  sin,  what  do  I  unto  thee,  thou  observer  of 
Wherefore  hast  thou  made  me  thy  mark,       [men  ? 
that  I  should  become  a  burden  to  myself? 
And  why  wilt  thou  not  pardon  my  transgression, 
and  remit  my  iniquity? 
For.soon^  I  shall  lie  down  in  the  dust; 
and  thou  wilt  seek  me, — but  I  shall  not  be. 

Y.  IG.  I  loathe  it ;  I  would  not  live  always.  lb. '  vapor ' :  breath 
V.  20.  If  I  sin  in  what  I  do  unto  thee,  thou  observer  of  men, 
wherefore  dost  thou  make  me  thy  mark, 
so  that  I  am  become  a  burden  to  myself? 
17 


JOB.  Chap.  viii. 


Then  answered  Bildad,  the  Shuhite,  and  said: 
How  long  wilt  thou  speak  these  things, 
and  the  words  of  thy  mouth  be  a  strong  wind? 
Will  God  pervert  right, 
or  will  the  Ahiiiglity  pervert  justice? 
Though  thy  sons  have  sinned  against  him, 
and  he  hath  given  them  into  the  power  of  their 
if  thou  thyself  wouldst  seek  God,     [transgression  : 
and  make  supplication  to  the  Almighty; 
if  thou  w^ert  pure  and  upright ; 
surely  even  now,  he  would  awake  for  thee, 
and  make  thy  righteous  dwelling  secure. 
Then,  though  thy  beginning  be  small, 
thy  end  shall  be  exceeding  great. 

For  inquire,  I  pray,  of  the  former  generation, 
and  note  what  their  fathers  have  searched  out. 
For  we  are  of  yesterday,  and  know  nothing, 
and  our  days  upon  earth  are  a  shadow. 
Will  not  they  instruct  thee,  and  tell  thee, 
and  utter  words  from  their  heart : — 
Does  the  paper-rush  shoot  up,  except  in  the  marsh? 
will  the  marsh-grass  grow  without  water? 
While  yet  in  its  greenness,  and  th^y  cut  it  not, 
it  drieth  up,  sooner  than  any  herb. 


V.  4.  When  thy  sons  sinned  against  him,  he  gave 
V.  6.  'awake  for':  watch  over 
18 


JOB.  Chap.  ix. 

So  are  the  ways  of  all  who  forget  God ; 
the  hope  of  the  impure  shall  perish. 

For  his  confidence  shall  be  cut  off; 
and  his  trust,  it  is  a  spider's-web. 
He  shall  lean  upon  his  house,  but  it  shall  not  abide ; 
he  shall  lay  hold   on  it,  but  it  shall  not  stand. 
He,  in  the  face  of  the  sun,  is  green, 
and  his  sprouts  shoot  forth  over  his  garden. 
Over  a  stone-heap  are  his  roots  entwined; 
he  seeth  the  habitation  of  stones. 
When  he  shall  be  destroyed  from  his  place, 
it  shall  deny  him :  I  have  not  seen  thee. 

Lo,  that  is  the  joy  of  his  way ; 
and  from  the  dust  shall  others  sprout  up. 

Lo,  Grod  will  not  spurn  the  upright, 
nor  take  hold  of  the  hand  of  the  wicked. 
While  he  fills  thy  mouth  with  laughter, 
and  thy  lips  with  rejoicing, 

they  that  hate  thee  shall  be  clothed  with  shame : 
but  the  habitation  of  the  wicked, — it  comes  to 

Then  answered  Job,  and  said:  [naught. 

Of  a  truth,  I  know  that  it  is  so; 
for  how  can  man  be  just  with  God? 
If  he  should  desire  to  contend  with  him, 
he  could  not  answer  him,  for  one  of  a  thousand. 

V.  3.  If  He  were  pleased  to  contend  with  him, 
he  could  not  answer  Him, 
19 


JOB.  Chap.  ix. 

Wise  in  heart,  and  strong  in  power! 

who  withstands  him,  and  is  secure? 

He  that  removeth  mountains,  ere  they  are  aware ; 

who  overturneth  them  in  his  anger. 

He  that  makes  the  earth  to  tremble  from  its  place ; 

and  the  pillars  thereof  are  shaken. 

He  that  bids  the  sun,  and  it  shineth  not, 

and  sealeth  up  the  stars ; 

He  spread  out  the  heavens,  alone, 

and  treads  upon  the  heights  of  the  sea. 

He  made  the  Bear,  Orion,  and  the  Pleiads, 

and  the  secret  chambers  of  the  South. 

He  doeth  great  things,  beyond  searching  out, 

and  wonders,  without  number. 

Lo,  he  goes  by  me,  but  I  see  him  not; 
he  passes  along,  but  I  do  not  perceive  him. 
Lo,  he  seizes  the  prey;  who  shall  hinder  him? 
who  will  say  to  him:  What  doest  thou? 
God  will  not  turn  away  his  anger ; 
proud  helpers  bow  beneath  it. 
Should  I  then  answer  him, — 
choose  out  my  words  against  him  ? 
Whom,  though  I  be  righteous,  I  would  not  answer ; 
I  would  make  supplication  to  my  judge. 

V.  7.  '  shineth ' :  riseth  V.  8.  '  spread  out ' :  bows 

V.  11.  'goes  by':  assails 

20 


JOB.  Chap.  ix. 

If  I  called,  and  he  answered  me, 

I  would  not  believe  that  he  listened  to  my  voice. 

For  he  dashes  me  in  pieces  with  a  tempest, 

and  multiplies  my  wounds  without  cause. 

He  will  not  suffer  me  to  recover  my  breath; 

but  fills  me  with  bitter  plagues. 

If  it  be  of  might,  lo  he  is  the  Strong! 

and  if  of  right,  who  will  appoint  me  a  time? 

Though  I  were  righteous,  my  own  mouth  would 

condemn  me ; 
if  I  were  perfect,  he  would  show  me  perverse. 
Though  perfect,  I  should    take   no   thought   for 

myself, 
nor  should  I  value  my  life. 
It  is  all  the  same;  therefore  I  say, 
he  consumes  the  righteous  and  the  wicked. 
When  the  scourge  shall  suddenly  destroy, 
he  mocks  at  the  distress  of  the  innocent. 
The  earth  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  wicked ; 
the  face  of  its  judges  he  vails; 
if  not,  who  then  is  it  ? 

My  days  are  swifter  than  a  runner; 
they  are  fled,  and  have  seen  no  good. 

Y.  17.  '  For  ' :  He  that  |  '  dashes  me  in  pieces  ' :  assails  me 
V.  19.  If  it  be  of  the  might  of  the  strong : — Lo,  here  am  I; 
and  if  of  right : — Who  will  appoint  me  a  time  ? 
21 


JOB.  Chap.  x. 

They  have  passed  by,  like  the  reed-skiffs ; 

as  the  eagle  darts  upon  its  prey. 

If  I  say:  I  will  forget  my  complaining, 

I  will  change  my  aspect,  and  be  joyous : 

then  I  shudder  at  all  my  woes ; 

I  know  thou  wilt  not  declare  me  innocent. 

I,  I  am  accounted  guilty; 

why  then  should  I  weary  myself  in  vain! 

Though  I  wash  myself  in  snow-water, 

and  cleanse  my  hands  with  lye ; 

then,  thou  wilt  plunge  me  into  the  pit, 

and  my  clothes  would  abhor  me.  [him ; 

For  he  is  not  man,  lilve  me,  that  I  should  answer 

that  we  should  enter  into  judgment  together. 

There  is  no  arbiter  between  us, 

that  might  lay  his  hand  upon  us  both. 

Let  him  turn  away  his  rod  from  me, 

that  the  dread  of  him  may  not  overawe  me: 

I  will  speak,  and  will  not  be  afraid  of  him; 

for  not  so  am  I,  in  myself. 

My  soul  is  weary  of  my  life ; 
I  will  give  free  course  to  my  complaint ; 
I  will  speak  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul. 


V.  26.  like  robber-ships  (V.  R.) 
V.  27.  'be  joyous':  look  cheerful 
V.  30.  'snow-water':  snow  (V.  R.) 
22 


JOB.  Chap.  x. 

I  will  say  unto  God,  do  not  hold  me  guilty; 

show  me,  wherefore  thou  contendest  with  me. 

Does  it  seem  good  to  thee,  that  thou  shouldst  op- 

shouldst  contemn  the  work  of  thy  hands,      [press, 

and  shine  upon  the  counsel  of  the  wicked? 

Hast  thou  eyes  of  flesh, 

or  seest  thou  as  man  seeth? 

Are  thy  days  as  man's  days, 

or  are  thy  years  as  the  days  of  a  man? 

That  thou  shouldst  seek  after  my  iniquity, 

and  shouldst  search  for  my  sin; 

though  thou  knowest  I  am  not  wicked, 

and  none  can  deliver  from  thy  hand. 

Thy  hands  have  fashioned  me,  and  made  me, 
in  every  part ;  and  yet  thou  dost  destroy  me ! 
Remember  now,  that  thou  hast  formed  me,  as  with 
and  wilt  thou  bring  me  to  dust  again?       [clay; 
Didst  thou  not  make  me  flow  as  milk, 
and  thicken  like  the  curd; — 
clothe  me  with  skin  and  flesh, 
with  bones  and  sinews  interweave  me? 
Life  and  favor  thou  hast  granted  me, 
and  thy  providence  has  preserved  my  spirit. 
Yet  these  things  thou  didst  hide  in  thy  heart , 
I  know  that  this  was  in  thy  mind. 

V.  3.  Is  it  a  pleasure  to  thee  ;  or.  Is  it  seemly  for  thee 

lb.     '  shine  upon ' :  favor  V.  13.  '  hide  ' :  lay  up 

23 


JOB.  Chap.  xi. 

If  I  sin,  thou  observest  me, 
and  wilt  not  absolve  me  from  my  guilt. 
If  I  am  wicked,  woe  unto  me ! 
and  if  righteous,  I  may  not  lift  my  head, 
filled  with  shame,  and  the  sight  of  my  misery ! 
If  it  lift  itself  up,  thou  dost  hunt  me  like  the  lion, 
and  show  again  ^thy  wondrous  power  upon  me. 
Thou  renewest  thy  witnesses  against  me, 
and  increasest  thy  displeasure  towards  me, 
with  host  succeeding  host  against  me.      [womb? 

Why  then  didst  thou  bring  me  forth  from  the 
I  should  have  died,  and  no  eye  would  have  seen  me. 
I  should  be,  as  if  I  had  not  been ; — 
should  have  been  borne  from  the  womb  to  the  grave. 

Are  not  my  days  few?    Let  him  forbear! 
let  him  withdraw  from  me,  that  I  may  rejoice  a 
before  I  shall  go,  and  not  return ;        [little  while  : 
to  the  land  of  darkness  and  of  death-shade ; 
a  land  of  gloom  like  the  thick  darkness, 
of  death-shade,  without  order ; 
and  the  light  is  as  thick  darkness. 

Then  answered  Zophar,  theNaamathite,  and  said : 
Shall  the  multitude  of  words  not  be  answered? 
or  shall  a  man  of  talk  be  accounted  right? 


V.  20.  Forbear  then  (V.  R.) 
lb.    withdraw  from  me  (V.  E.) 
24 


JOB.  Chap.  xi. 

Shall  thy  boastmgs  put  men  to  silence, 
that   thou   mayest   mock,    and   none   make   thee 
and  say:  My  doctrine  is  pure,  [ashamed; 

and  I  am  clean  in  thy  sight? 

But,  would  that  God  would  speak, 
and  open  his  lips   against  thee ; 
and  would  show  thee  the  secrets  of  wisdom, 
how  manifold  is  understanding ; 
then  shalt  thou  know,  that  Grod  remembers  not  all 
thy  guilt  against  thee. 

Canst  thou  find  out  the  deep  things  of  God, 
or  find  out  the  Almighty,  to  perfection? 
It  is  high  as  heaven;  what  canst  thou  do? 
deeper   than  the  under-world ;   what  canst  thou 
longer  than  the  earth,  in  its  measure,       [know? 
and  broader  than  the  sea! 
If  he  pass  by,  and  shall  apprehend, 
and  call  an  assembly,  who  will  answer  him? 
For  he,  he  knows  evil  men ; 
and  sees  iniquity,  when  he  seems  not  to  regard  it. 
But  vain  man  is  void  of  understanding; 
a  foal  of'the  wild-ass,  is  man  from  his  birth. 


Y.  6.  how  far  thcj  exceed  compreliension 
V,  7.  or  reach  the  perfection  of  the  Almighty 
V.  11.  without  intently  observing  it. 
V.  12.  '  vain ' :  empty 

25 


JOB.  Chap.  xii. 


And  thou,  if  thou  direct  thy  heart, 
and  spread  forth  thy  hands,  unto  him; — 
if  iniquity  is  in  thy  hand,  put  it  far  away, 
and  let  not  wrong  abide  in  thy  dwellings; — 
surely,  then  shalt  thou  lift  thy  face  without  spot, 
and  be  steadfast,  and  shalt  not  fear. 
For  thou  shalt  forget  sorrow ; 
as  waters  passed  away,  shalt  thou  remember  it. 
And  brighter  than  noon-day,  shall  life  arise; 
the  darkness  shall  become  as  the  morning. 
Then  wilt  thou  trust,  because  there  is  hope ; 
yea,  thou  wilt  search,  and  lie  down  without  fear. 
Thou  shalt  repose,  and  none  make  thee  afraid; 
yea,  many  shall  make  their  court  to  thee. 
But  the  eyes  of  the  wicked  shall  waste  away ; 
refuge  vanishes  from  them; 
and  their  hope,  it  is  the  breathing  out  of  life. 

Then  Job  answered  and  said : 
Of  a  truth,    ye  are  the  people  ; 
and  with  you,  wisdom  will  die ! 
I  also  have  understanding,  as  well  as  you ; 
I  am  not  inferior  to  you  : 
and  who  has  not  such  things  as  these? 


V.  13.  prepare  thy  heart ;  or,  firmly  set  thy  heart 
V.  14.  (V.  R.)  dwelHng 

V.  17.  should  darkness  come,  it  shall  be  as  the  dawn, 
26 


JOB.  Chap.  xii. 


I  am  become  one,  that  is  a  mockery  to  his  friends ; 
who  has  called  upon  God,  and  he  answered  him; 
a  mockery  is  the  just  and  the  upright ! 
There  is  scorn  for  misfortune,  in  the  thought  of  the 
ready  for  those  who  waver  in  their  steps,      [secure, 
Peaceful  are  the  tents  of  the  spoilers, 
and  secure  are  they  that  provoke  God, — 
he  into  whose  hand  God  bringeth. 
But  ask  now  the  beasts,  and  they  will  teach  thee ; 
and  the  birds  of  heaven,  and  they  will  show  thee. 
Or  speak  to  the  earth,  and  it  will  teach  thee ; 
and  the  fishes  of  the  sea  will  tell  it  thee. 
Who  knows  not,  by  all  these, 
that  the  hand  of  Jehovah  does  this  ; 
in  whose  hand  is  the  breath  of  all  living, 
and  the  spirit  of  all  the  flesh  of.  man  ? 

Does  not  the  ear  try  words, 
even  as  the  palate  tastes  food  for  itself? 
Among  the  aged,  is  wisdom  ? 
and  is  length  of  days  understanding  ? 

With  Him  are  wisdom  and  might ; 
to  him  belong  counsel  and  understanding. 


V.  6.  he  who  brings  God  in  his  hand. 
V.  8.  '  speak  to ' :  the  plant  of 
V.  9.  '  by ' :  among 

lb.  '  Jehovah ' :  God  (V.  R.)  |  '  does ' :  has  made 
27 


JOB.  Chap.  xii. 

Lo,  he  casts  down,  and  it  shall  not  be  built  up ; 
he  shuts  up  a  man,  and  he  shall  not  be  set  free. 
Lo,  he  withholds  the  waters,  and  they  dry  away ; 
and  he  sends  them  forth,  and  they  lay  waste  the 
With  him  are  strength  and  counsel ;  [earth, 

the  erring,  and  he  that  causes  to  err,  are  his. 
He  leads  counselors  captive, 
and  judges  he  makes  fools. 
The  girdle  of  kings  he  looses, 
and  binds  a  cord  upon  their  loins. 
Priests  he  leads  captive ; 
and  the  long  established  he  overthrows. 
The  trusted  he  deprives  of  speech, 
and  takes  away  the  wisdom  of  the  aged. 
He  pours  contempt  upon  nobles, 
and  looses  the  girdle  of  the  strong. 
Deep  things  he  reveals,  out  of  the  darkness, 
and  the  shadow  of  death  lie  brings  forth  to  light. 
He  gives  the  nations  growth,  and  he  destroys  them; 
he  extends  the  bounds  of  nations,  and  he  leads  them 
away.  [of  understanding, 

The  leaders  of  the  people  of  the  land  he  deprives 
and  makes  them  wander  in  a  pathless  waste. 
They  grope  in  darkness,  and  there  is  no  light ; 
he  makes  them  reel  like  a  drunken  man. 

V.  18.  '  girdle ' :  bond ;  or.  authority 

28 


JOB.  Chap.  xiii. 


Lo,  my  eye  has  seen  it  all ; 
my  ear  has  heard,  and  perceived  it. 
What  ye  know,  I  know  also ; 
I  am  not  inferior  to  you. 

But  I,  to  the  Almighty  will  I  speak ; 
unto  God  I  desire  to  make  my  plea. 
But  ye, — forgers  of  lies, 
botchers  of  vanities, — are  ye  all. 
Would  that  ye  would  be  altogether  silent ; 
for  it  would  be  your  wisdom. 

Hear  now  my  defense; 
and  listen  to  the  pleadings  of  my  lips. 
Will  ye,  for  God,  speak  that  which  is  wrong, 
and  for  him  will  ye  utter  deceit? 
Will  ye  regard  his  person, 
or  will  ye  contend  for  God  ? 
Is  it  well,  that  he  should  search  you  out  ? 
or,  as  a  man  is  deceived,  can  ye  deceive  him  ? 
He  will  surely  rebuke  you, 
if  ye  secretly  have  regard  for  persons. 
Shall  not  his  majesty  make  you  afraid, 
and  the  dread  of  him  fall  upon  you  ? 
Your  wise  sayings, — they  are  maxims  of  ashes ; 
your  towers  of  defense  are  towers  of  clay. 


V.  4.  worthless  physicians 

V.  9.  'deceived':  mocked  |  'deceive':  mock 

20 


JOB.  Chap.  xni. 


Keep  silence  before  me,  that  I  now  may  speak; 
and  let  come  npon  me  what  will. 
Why  do  I  take  my  flesh  in  my  teeth, 
and  put  my  life  in  my  hand  ? 
Behold,  he  will  slay  me;  I  may  not  hope: 
yet,  in  his  presence,  I  will  defend  my  ways. 
And  he  too  will  be  my  deliverance; 
for  the  impure  shall  not  come  before  him. 

Hear  attentively  my  speech, . 
and  that  which  I  declare  in  your  ears. 
Behold  now,  I  have  made  ready  my  cause; 
I  know  that  I  am  innocent. 
Who  is  he  that  can  contend  with  me? 
For  then  would  I  be  silent,  and  die. 
Only,  two  things  do  not  thou  unto  me; 
then  will  I  not  hide  myself  from  thee. 
Thy  hand  remove  thou  from  upon  me, 
and  let  not  thy  terror  make  me  afraid: 
then  call  thou,  and  I  will  answer; 
or  I  will  speak,  and  answer  thou  me. 

How  many  are  my  iniquities  and  sins? 
My  transgression  and  my  sin  make  known  to  me. 
Wherefore  dost  thou  hide  thy  face, 
and  regard  me  as  thine  enemy  9 

V.  14.  Why  should  I  take 

V.  15.  (V.  R.)  Though  he  slay  me,  I  will  trust  in  him 
V.  16.  And  this  too  lb.  that  the  impure 

30 


JOB.  Chap.  xiv. 


A  driven  leaf  wilt  thou  put  in  fear, 

and  pursue  the  dry  chaff? 

For  tliou  writest  bitter  things  against  me, 

and  makest  me  inherit  the  sins  of  my  youth : 

and  puttest  my  feet  in  the  stocks, 

and  watchest  all  my  paths; 

thou  settest  a  bound  to  the  soles  of  my  feet. 

And  he,  as  rottenness,  shall  waste  away; 

as  a  garment,  which  the  moth  consumes. 

Man,  of  woman  born, 
is  of  few  days  and  full  of  trouble. 
Like  a  flower  he  goes  forth,  and  is  cut  off; 
he  fleeth  as  the  shadow,  and  abideth  not. 
And  on  such  an  one  openest  thou  thine  eyes, 
and  me  dost  thou  bring  into  judgment  with  thee? 
"Who  can  show  a  clean  thing,  out  of  the  unclean? 
.There  is  not  one! 
If  his  days  are  determined, 
if  the  number  of  his  months  is  before  thee ; 
if  thou  hast  set  his  bounds,  that  he  cannot  pass ; 
look  away  from  him,  that  he  may  rest, 
so  that  he  may  enjoy,  as  a  hireling,  his  day. 


V.  2.  and  witliereth 

V.  4.  0  that  a  clean  thing  could  come  out  of  the  unclean ! 

Not  one ! 
V.  6.  Until  he  shall  have  paid,  as  a  hireling,  his  day. 
31 


JOB.  Chap.  xiv. 

For  there  is  hope  for  the  tree, 
if  it  be  cut  down,  that  it  will  flourish  again, 
and  that  its  sprout  will  not  fail. 
Though  its  root  become  old  in  the  earth, 
and  its  trunk  die  in  the  ground; 
through  the  scent  of  w^ater  it  w^ill  bud, 
and  put  forth  boughs  like  a  sapling. 
But  man  dies,  and  wastes  away; 
yea,  man  expires,  and  where  is  he ! 
Waters  fail  from  the  pool, 
and  the  stream  decays  and  dries  up : 
so  man  lies  down,  and  will  not  arise; 
till  the  heavens  are  no  more,  they  will  not  awake, 
nor  be  roused  from  their  sleep. 

0  that  thou  wouldst  hide  me  in  the  under-world, 
wouldst  conceal  me  till  thy  wrath  is  past, 
wouldst  appoint  me  a  time,  and  remember  me.  • 
If  a  man  die,  will  he  live  again  ? 
All  the  days  of  my  warfare  would  I  wait, 
until  my  change  come. 
Thou  wilt  call,  and  I  will  answer  thee; 
thou  wilt  yearn  towards  the  w^ork  of  thy  hands. 


v.  10.  and  is  at  an  end 

V.  11.  'pool':  sea 

V.  14.  '  warfare ' :  appointed  time 

V  15.  'wilt':  wouldst  |  'will':  would  |  'wilt':  wouldst 


JOB.  Chap.  xv. 

For  now,  thou  numberest  my  steps; 
dost  thoii  not  watch  for  my  sin? 
My  transgression  is  sealed  up  in  a  bag; 
and  thou  sewest  up  my  iniquity. 

But  the  mountain  falling  crumbles, 
and  the  rock  is  removed  out  of  its  place. 
Water  wears  out  the  stones ; 
its  floods  sweep  away  the  dust  of  the  earth: 
so  thou  destroyest  the  hope  of  man. 
Thou  assailest  him  continually,  and  he  goes  hence ; 
thou  changest  his  countenance,  and  sendest  him 
His  sons  come  to  honor,  and  he  knows  it  not ;    [away, 
and  they  are  brought  low,  but  he  heeds  them  not. 
Only,  his  flesh  for  itself  shall  have  pain, 
and  his  soul  for  itself  shall  mourn. 
Then  annswered  Eliphaz  the  Temanit,  and  said: 

Shall  a  wise  man  answer  with  windy  knowledge, 
and  fill  his  breast  with  the  east- wind; 
reproving,  with  speech  that  helps  not, 
with  words  wherein  is  no  profit? 


V.  16.  But  now 

V.  17.  and  thou  devisest  additions  to 
V.  18.  falling  lies  prostrate 

V.  22.  -itself:  himself  '      lb.  'itself:  himself 

V.    3.  reproving':  arguing 
lb.  whereby  he  is  not  profited 


JOB.  Chap,  xv 

Yea,  thou  thyself  dost  cast  off  fear, 
and  withholdest  prayer  before  God. 
For  thy  mouth  teaches  thine  iniquity, 
although  thou  choosest  the  tongue  of  the  crafty. 
Thy  mouth  condemns  thee,  and  not  I; 
and  thy  lips  testify  against  thee. 

Art  thou  the  first  man  born, 
and  before  the  hills  wast  thou  brought  forth? 
Hast  thou  listened,  in  the  council  of  God; 
and  reservest  thou  wisdom  to  thyself? 
What  dost  thou  know,  and  we  know  it  not, 
or  understand,  and  we  have  not  the  same  ? 
The  aged  also,  and  the  hoary-headed,  is  with  us, 
older  than  thy  father. 

Are  the  consolations  of  God  too  little  for  thee; 
and  the  word  that  gently  deals  with  thee? 
Why  does  thy  heart  carry  thee  away; 
and  why  twinkle  thine  eyes; 
that  against   God,  thou  dost  turn  thy  spirit, 
and  utter  words  from  thy  mouth? 
What  is  man,  that  he  should  be  pure, 
one  born  of  woman,  that  he  should  be  righteous  ? 


V.  4.  '  cast  off ' :  abolish        lb.  '  withholdest' :  make  light  of 
lb.  'prayer':  devotion     *  Y.  13.  ' thy  spirit ':  thine  anger 
V.  14.  and  that  he  should  be  righteous,  that  is  born  of 
woman? 

34 


JOB.  Chap.  xv. 

Lo,  He  trusteth  not  in  his  holy  ones,, 
and  the  heavens  are  not  clean  in  his  eyes. 
Much  more,  the  abominable  and  polluted; 
man,  that  drinks  in  iniquity  like  water. 

I  will  show  thee;  listen  thou  to  me: 
and  that  which  I  have  seen  I  will  declare; 
what  the  wise  make  known, 
and  have  not  hidden, — from  their  fathers. 
To  whom  alone  the  land  was  given, 
and  no  stranger  passed  among  them. 

All  the  days  of  the  wicked  man,  he  is  in  pain, 
and  the  number  of  years  that  are  laid  up  for  the 

oppressor. 
Sounds  of  fear  are  in  his  ears; 
in  peace,  the  destroyer  comes  upon  him: 
he  trusts  not  that  he  shall  escape  out  of  darkness ; 
and  he  is  destined  for  the  sword. 
He  wanders  about  for  bread:  Where  is  it? 
he  knows  that  a  day  of  darkness  is  ready,  at  his  hand. 
Trouble  and  distress  make  him  afraid — 
overpower  him,  as  a  king  ready  for  the  battle. 
Because  he  stretched  out  his  hand  against  God, 
and  proudly  set  himself  against  the  Almighty; 
ran  upon  him,  with  stiffened  neck, 
with  the  thick  bosses  of  his  bucklers. 
Because  he  covered  his  face  with  his  fatness, 
and  gathered  fat  upon  the  loin; 


JOB.  Chap.  xvi. 


and  abode  in  desolated  cities, 

whose  houses  none  inhabit, 

which  are  destined  for  stoneheaps. 

He  shall  not  be  rich,  nor  shall  his  wealth  endure ; 

nor  shall  their  possessions  spread  abroad  in  the 

He  shall  not  escape  out  of  darkness;  [earth. 

a  flame  shall  dry  up  his  branches; 

and  by  the  breath  of  His  mouth  shall  he  pass  away. 

Let  him  not  trust  in  evil;  he  is  deceived, 
for  evil  shall  be  his  reward. 
Before  his  time,  it  is  fiiliilled; 
and  his  Palm  is  no  longer  green. 
He  shall  shake  off,  like  the  vine,  his  unripe  grapes, 
and,  like  the  olive,  cast  away  his  blossoms. 
For  the  household  of  the  impure  is  desolate, 
and  a  fire  devours  the  tents  of  bribery. 
They  conceive  mischief,  and  bring  forth  vanity; 
and  their  womb  matures  fiilsehood. 

Then  answered  Job,  and  said : 
I  have  heard  many  such  things; 
miserable  comforters  are  ye  all. 

V.  28.  houses  where  none  dwell,  lb.  '  are ' :  were 

V.  29.  'nor'  &c.  his  wealth  shall  not  mount  up, 
lb.  nor  shall  their  possessions  bend  down  to  earth.  J  '  pos- 
Bessions ' :  fold  (V.  R.) 

V.  31.  'evil':  vanity  |  'he  is  deceived':  the  deceived  one, 
lb.  '  evil ' :  vanity  V.  34.  is  famished 

36 


JOB.  Chap.  xvi. 

Is  there  any  end  to  words  of  wind? 

or  what  emboldens  thee,  that  thou  shouldst  answer  ? 

I  also  could  speak  as  ye  do; 

were  your  soul  in  place  of  mine, 

I  could  frame  words  against  you, 

and  could  shake  my  head  at  you. 

I  would  strengthen  you  with  my  mouth, 

and  the  comfort  of  my  lips  should  uphold ! 

If  I  speak,  my  grief  is  not  assuaged; 
and  if  I  forbear,  does  it  at  all  depart  from  me? 
But  now,  He  hath  wearied  me  out; 
thou  hast  made  all  my  household  desolate; 
and  me  hast  thou  seized — ^it  is  become  a  witness; 
and  my  leanness  rises  up  against  me, 
it  bears  witness,  to  my  face. 
His  anger  rends,  and  it  pursues  me; 
he  gnashes  on  me  with  his  teeth; 
my  enemy  sharpeneth  his  eyes  at  me. 
They  gape  upon  me  with  their  mouth;' 
with  scorn,  they  smite  me  on  the  cheek; 
together  they  combine  against  me. 
God  delivers  me  up  to  the  unrighteous, 
and  casts  me  into  the  hands  of  the  wicked. 


V.  3.  what  provokes  V.  4.  would  speak 

lb.  would  frame  lb.  would  shake 

V.  5.  and  the  moying  V.  C.  my  pain 

37 


JOB.  Chap.  xvi. 

I  was  at  rest, — and  he  shattered  me; 
he  laid  hold  of  my  neck,  and  dashed  me  in  pieces, 
and  set  me  up  for  his  mark. 
His  strong  ones  beset  me  round; 
he  cleaves  my  reins,  and  does  not  spare; 
and  pours  out  my  gall  upon  the  earth. 
He  breaks  me,  \Yith  breach  upon  breach; 
he  runs  upon  me  like  a  warrior.' 
I  have  sewed  sack-cloth  upon  my  skin, 
and  have  thrust  my  liorn  into  the  dust. 
My  face  is  inflamed  with  weeping, 
and  a  death-shade  is  on  my  eyelids; 
although  no  violence  is  in  my  hands, 
and  my  prayer  is  pure.    • 

Earth,  cover  not  thou  my  blood ! 
and  let  my  cry  have  no  resting-place ! 
Even  now,  behold  my  witness  is  in  heaven, 
and  my  attestor  is  on  high. 
My  mockers,  are  my  friends: 
unto  God  my  eye  poureth  tears; 
that  he  would  do  justice  to  a  man  with  God, 
as  a  son  of  man  to  his  fellow. 
For  a  few  years  will  pass, 
and  I  shall  go  the  way  that  I  return  not. 


V.  13.  His  arrows  ;  others^  His  archers 
38 


JOB.  Chap.  xvii. 


My   breath   is   consumed, 
my   days    are   extinct; 
the    graves    are   my   portion. 
Of  a   truth,    mockeries   beset   me; 
and  my  eye  must  dwell  on  their  provocation. 
Give   a  pledge,    I   pray   thee; 
be   thou   my   surety   w^ith    thee: 
who*  is  there,  that  will  give  his  hand  for  mine  ? 
For  their  heart  thou  hast  kept  back  from  wisdom ; 
therefore,   thou   wilt   not   exalt   them. 
Whoso   betrays   friends   for   a  prey, 
even   the   eyes    of  his    children   shall   fail. 
And  me  has  He  set  for  the  peoples'  by-wprd; 
I  am  become  one  to  be  spit  upon  in  the  face. 
My   eye   is   bedimmed   with   grief, 
and  my  members,  all  of  them,  are  as  the  shadow. 
The   upright  will   be    astonished   at    this, 
and  the  innocent  will  be  roused  against  the  impure. 
Yet   will   the  righteous   hold    on   his   way, 
and  he   that   is  of  clean  hands  will   increase  in 
But  as  for  them  all, — come  on  again  I  pray ;  [strength, 
for  I  find  not  a  wise  man  among  you. 


V.  1.  My  spirit     lb.  the  grave  is 

V.  2.  Do  not  mockeries  beset  me  ? 

and  does  not  my  eye  dwell 

V.  3.  that  will  strike  hands  with  me 

V.  10.  But  as  for  you  all  (V.  R.) 

39 


JOB.  Chap,  xviii. 


My  days  are  passed;  my  plans  are  broken  off, 
the   treasures   of  my   heart ! 
Night   is  joined   to   day; 
light   is  just   before   darkness. 
Loj  1  wait  my  abode  in  the  under-world, 
in  the  darkness  have  I  spread  my  couch; 
I  have  called  to  corruption,  My  father  art  thou; 
to  the  worm,  My  mother  and  my  sister! 
And   w^here   then   is   my   hope? 
yea  my   hope,   who   shall   see   it ! 
It  will  go  down  to  the  bars  of  the  under-world, 
so    soon   as   there   is   rest   in   the   dust. 

Then  answered  Bildad  the  Shuhite,  and  said* 
How   long   wall   ye   hunt   for   words? 
understand;    and   afterward    let   us    speak. 
Wherefore  are  we  accounted  as  the  brute, — 
are   impure   in    your  eyes  ? 
One  that  teareth  himself  in  his  rage ! 
for  thee,  shall  the  earth  be  forsaken, 
and  the  rock  remove  out  of  its  place? 

V.  12.  Night  they  make  day 

V.  13.  If  I  wait  my  abode  in  the  under-world, 

in  the  darkness  spread  my  couch ; 
V.  14.  say  to  the  grave,  My  father  art  thou, 

to  the  worm,  My  mother  and  my  sister ; 
V.  15.  then  where  is  my  hope  ? 
V.    2.  will  ye  set  snares  for  words.     Others : 

How  long,  ere  ye  make  an  end  of  words 
40 


JOB.  Chap,  xviii. 


Yea,  the  light  of  the  wicked  shall  go  out, 
and  the  flame  of  his  fire  shall  not  shine. 
The   light   darkens   in   his   tent, 
and   his    lamp    above   him   goes    out. 
His   strong   steps    becom.e    straitened, 
and   his    own    counsel   casts   him   down. 
For  he  is 'driven  into  a  net  by  his  own  feet, 
and   he   w^alks   upon   snares. 
The    trap   will    seize   by   the   heel, 
the   snare   will    take   fast   hold   of  him ; 
hidden   is   its   cord   in   the    earth, 
and   its   noose   upon   the   pathway. 
On   every   side,    terrors    affright   him, 
and   pursue   him,    at   his   footsteps. 
His   strength   becomes  famished; 
and   destruction   is   ready,    at   his   side. 
It   devours   the   parts   of  his   skin; 
his  limbs  the  first-born  of  death  devours. 
He  shall  be  torn  from  the  security  of  his  tent, 
and  be  led  away  to  the  king  of  terrors. 
There  shall  dwell  in  his  tent  they  that  are  not  his ; 
brimstone  shall  be  showered  upon  his  habitation. 
Beneath,    his  roots   shall   dry   up; 
and   above,   his   branch   shall   be   cut   off. 


V.  16.  his  branch  shall  wither 
41 


JOB.  Chap.  xix. 


His   memory   perishes   from   earth; 
and  he  has  no  name  on  the  face  of  the  fields. 
He  shall  be  thrust  forth  from  liglit  into  darkness, 
and  shall  be  driven  from  the  habitable  world. 
He  has  no  offspring  and  no  progeny  among  his 
and   no   survivor   in   his   dwellings.  [people, 

They  that  come  after  are  astonished  at  his  day; 
and  they  that  were  before  are  terror-stricken. 

Such  only  are  the  habitations  of  the  wicked, 
and  such  the  place  of  him  that  knows  not  God. 

Then    answered   Job,    and   said: 
How   long   will    ye    vex   my    soul, 
and  break   me   in   pieces   with   words? 
These   ten    times    do    ye   reproach   me ; 
without   shame,   ye   stun   me. 
And   even   if,   in   truth,    I   have   erred, 
my   error   abides   with   myself. 
If,  indeed,  against  me  ye  will  make  your  boast, 
then    prove   against   me   my   reproach. 

Know  now,  that  God  has  wrested   my  cause; 
and   his   net   he   has   cast   around   me. 
Lo,  I  cry  out  for  wrong,  and  am  not  answered; 
I  call  aloud,  and  there  is  no  justice. 

V.  3.  ye  contend  with  me 

V.  5.  If,  indeed,  ye  will  act  proudly  towards  me, 

and  upbraid  me  with  my  shame ; 
V.  G.  know  then,  that 

42 


JOB.  Chap.  xix. 

My  way  he  has  hedged  up,  that  I  cannot  pass, 

and  has  put  darkness  over  my  paths. 

He  has  stripped  me  of  my  glory, 

and  taken  the  crown  from  my  head. 

He  breaks  me  down  on  every  side,  and  I  perish; 

my   hope   he   uproots   like   the   tree. 

He  makes  his  anger  burn  against  me; 

as  his  enemies,  does  he  regard  me. 

Together   come   all  Iiis   bands; 

they   cast   up   their   way   to   me, 

and   encamp   around   my  tent. 

My  brethren  he  has  removed  far  from  me; 

and   they   that   know   me   are  wholly  estranged 

My   kinsmen   stand   aloof;  [from  me. 

and  my  acquaintances  have  forgotten  me. 

Sojourners  in  my  house,  even  my  maid-servants, 

count  me   a   stranger; 
I  am  become  an  alien  in  their  eyes. 
I  call  to  my  servant,  and  he  answers  not; 
with  my  mouth,  I  entreat  him. 
My  breath  is  strange  to  my  wife; 
I  am  offensive  to  the  sons  of  the  same  womb. 
Yea,  children  spurn  at  me; 
if  I  would  rise  up,  they  speak  against  me. 
All  my  familiar  friends  abhor  me; 
and  they  whom  I  love  are  turned  against  me. 

V.  17.  is  loathsome 
43 


JOB.  Chap.  xix. 

My  bone  cleaves  to  my  skin  and  to  my  flesh; 
so  that  I  am  escaped  with  the  skin  of  my  teeth. 
Have  pity  on  me,  have  pity  on  me,  ye  my  friends  ; 
for   the   hand   of  God   hath    touclied   me. 
Why   do   ye   pursue   me   as   God, 
and   are   not   satiated   with   my   flesh! 

Oh   that  my   words   were   written! 
oh   that   they   were   inscril^ed   in   the   book! 
that   with   an   iron   stile,   and   lead, 
they   were   graven   in   the   rock   forever! 

But   I,   I   know   my   redeemer   lives, 
and   in  after  time  will  stand  upon  the  earth; 
and   after   fhis   my   sidn   is   destroyed, 
and   without   my   flesh,   shall   I   see   God. 
Whom   I,    for   myself,   shall   see, 
and   my   eyes   behold,    and   not   another, 
when   my   reins   are   consumed   within   me. 

If  ye   say:    How  will   we   pursue   him! 
and  the   root   of  the   matter  is   found   in   me, 
be  ye   afraid  of  the   sword; 
for   wrath   is   a   crime   for   the   sword, 
that   ye   may   know   there   is  a  judgment. 


V.  25.  my  deliverer ;  or^  my  avenger 
lb.  will  stand  up  on  the  earth ;  or^  on  the  dust 

V.  26.  and  from  my  flesh      V.  27.  and  not  as  an  enemy 
lb.  My  reins  consume  within  me ! 
44 


JOB.  Chap.  xx. 

Then  answered  Zophar  the  Naamathite  and  said : 
For  this,  do  my  thoughts  give  answer  to  me, 
and  because  of  my  eager  haste  within  me. 
My  shameful  chastisement  must  I  hear;      [for  me. 
and  the  spirit,  from  my  understanding,  will  answer 

Dost  thou  know  this  to  have  been  from  of  old, 
since  man  was  placed  upon  the  earth ; 
that  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  is  short, 
and  the  joy  of  the  impure  for  a  moment? 
Though  his  height  mount  up  to  the  heavens, 
and   his   head   reach   to    the  clouds:  [ever; 

according  to  his  greatness,  so  shall  he  perish  for- 
they  that  saw  him  shall  say:  Where  is  he? 
As  a  dream  shall  he  fly,  and  not  be  found; 
and  be  chased  away,  as  a  vision  of  the  night. 
The  eye  that  saw  him  shall  see  him  no  more, 
and  his  place  shall  no  more  behold  him. 
His   sons   the   weak   shall   oppress; 
and  his  hands  shall  make  restitution  of  his  wealth. 
His   bones   are   full   of  his   youth; 
but  it  shall  lie  down  with  him  in  the  dust. 

Though   evil   be    sweet   in   his   mouth, 
though   he   hide   it   under   his   tongue; 
though  he  be  sparing  of  it,  and  will  not  let  it  go, 
and   hold   it   in   his   palate; 


V.  2.  and  therefore  is  my  V.  11.  but  they  shall 

45 


JOB.  Chap.  xx. 

his  food  is  turned  in  his  bowels, 

the   gall   of  asps   within  him! 

He  swallows  down  riches,  but  shall  disgorge  them ; 

God  will  dispossess  them  from  his  belly. 

He  shall  suck  in  the  poison  of  asps; 

the  tongue  of  the  adder  will  slay  him. 

He  shall  not  look  on  the  water-courses, 

the  flowing  streams  of  honey  and  milk. 

The  fruit  of  toil  he  restores,  and  shall  not  devour, 
as  his  borrowed  possession,  and  shall  not  rejoice 
Because  he  oppressed,  abandoned  the  weak,    [in  it. 
the  houses  he  has  plundered  he  shall  not  build  up. 
Because  he  knew  no  rest  in  his  bosom, 
of  all  his  delights  he  shall  save  nothing. 
His  greedy  appetite  nothing  escaped; 
therefore  his  prosperity  shall  not  endure. 
In   the   fullness   of  his   superfluity,   he   shall   be 

straitened ; 
every  hand  of  the  wretched  shall  come  upon  him. 
His  belly  shall  be  filled! 

God  shall  cast  on  him  the  fury  of  his  wrath, 
and  shall  rain  his  food  upon  him  ! 
If  he  flee  from  the  iron  weapon, 
the  bow  of  brass  shall  strike  him  through. 
He  plucks  it  out ;  it  comes  forth  from  his  body, 
the  gleaming  weapon,  from  his  gall ! 
terrors   come  upon  him ! 

46 


JOB.  Chap.  xxi. 


All  darkness  is  hoarded  up  for  his  treasures; 
a   fire   not   blown    shall   consume   them; 
it  shall  devour  the  remnant  in  his  tent. 
Heaven   shall   reveal   his   iniquity, 
and   earth   stand   up   against   him. 
The   increase   of  his   house   shall   depart, 
shall   flow   away,    in   the   day  of  His  wrath. 

This  is  the  portion  of  a  wricked  man  from  God, 
and  his  appointed  lot  from  the  Mighty  One. 

Then   ansv^ered   Job,    and   said: 
Hear   ye   attentively  my   speech; 
and  let  your   consolations   be   this. 
Suffer  me,  thai?  I  may  speak ; 
and  after  I  have  spoken,  mock  on. 

As  for  me,  is  my  complaint  to  man? 
Or  wherefore   should   I   not   be   impatient? 
Look   upon   me,    and   be   astonished, 
and   lay  the   hand   upon   the   mouth! 
For   when   I   remember,   I   am   dismayed; 
and   trembling   seizes   my   flesh. 
Wherefore   do   the   wicked   live, 
grow   old,   yea  become   mighty   in  power? 
Their  seed  with  them  is  established  in  their  sight, 
and   their   oftspring   before   their   eyes. 


V.  4.  is  my  complaint  of  man 
47 


JOB.  Chap.  xxi. 

Their  houses   are   in   peace,   without   fear; 

and   no   scourge   of   God   is   upon   them. 

His   cattle   breed,    and   fail  not ; 

his   kine    bring    forth,    and  miscarry   not. 

They  send  out  their  little  ones  like  the  flock, 

and   their    children  dance. 

They   shout,    with   tabret   and   harp, 

and   rejoice,   to   the   sound   of  the   pipe. 

In   prosperity   they   spend   their   days,  . 

and  in  a  moment,  go  down  to  the  under-world. 

And  they  say  unto  God :  Depart  from  us ; 

for  we  desire  not   the   knowledge  of  thy  ways. 

What    is    the   Almighty,    that    we    should   serve 

him? 
and    what    are    we    profited,    if   we    pray    unto 
him  ? 

Lo,    their   good   is   not   in    their   hand! 
Far   from   me   is   the   counsel   of  the   wicked. 

How  oft,  does  the  lamp  of  the  wicked  go  out, 
and   their   destruction   come   upon   them, 
or   He,   in   his   anger,    distribute  sorrows? 
or   they   are   as   stubble   before   the   wind, 
and  as  chaff,  which  the  whirlwind  snatches  away? 
Will    God     treasure     up     his     iniquity    for     his 

sons? 
on     him     let     him     requite    it,    that     he     may 
know ! 

48 


JOB.  Chap.  xxi. 

Let   his   eyes   see   his   destruction, 
and  let  him  drink  of  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty. 
For  what  is  his  concern  in  his  house  after  him, 
when  the  number  of  his  months  is  cut  off? 

Shall   one   teach    God   knowledge, 
when   it   is   he   that  judgeth   the   high? 
One   dies   in  his   full   prosperity ; 
he   is   w^hoUy   at   ease,    and   secure. 
His   sides   are   full   of  fat, 
and   the  marrow   of  his   bones   is   moistened. 
And   another   dies   in   bitterness   of  soul, 
and   has   not   tasted   good. 
Together   they   lie   down   in   the   dust, 
and   the   worm   covers   them. 

Lo,  I   know   your  devices, 
and  the  plots  with  which  ye  would  oppress  me. 
For  ye  say :   Where  is  the  house  of  the  Noble ; 
and  where  the  tent,  in  which  the  wicked  have 
Have  ye  not  asked  the  wayfarers?  [dwelt? 

and   do   ye   not   know   their   tokens? 
That  the  wicked  is  kept  unto  the  day  of  destruction ; 
they  are  brought  on  to  the  day  of  wrath. 

V.  22.  that  judgeth  on  high 
V.  24.  His  folds  are  full  of  milk  (V.  K.) 
V.  26.  and  rottenness  covers  them. 

V.  30.  That  the  wicked  is  kept  in  the  day  of  destruction ; 
they  are  brought  on  in  the  day  of  wrath. 
49 


JOB.  Chap.  xxii. 


Who,    to   his   face,    will  declare   his   way? 

and  what  he  has  done,  who  will  requite  him? 

And  he,  to  the  graves  is  he  borne  away, 

and  watch  is  held  over  the  tomb. 

Sweet  to  him  are  the  clods  of  the  valley; 

and  all  men  will  draw  after  him, 

as  before  him,  without  number. 

How  then  comfort  ye  me  in  vain, 
when  in  your  answers  there  remains  only  deception ! 

Then  answered  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  said  : 
Can  a  man  profit  God? 
for  it  is  himself  the  w^ise  man  profits. 
Is    it    a    pleasure    to    the    Almighty,    that    thou 

shouldst   be   righteous, 
or  a  gain,  that  thou  shouldst  make  tliy  ways  perfect? 
Will  he,  for  thy  fear,  rebuke  thee, 
enter  into  judgment  with  thee  ? 
Is  not  thy  wickedness  great? 
and  there  is  no  end  to  thy  iniquities.      [naught, 
For  thou  hast  taken  a  pledge  of  thy  brother  for 
and  stripped  off  the  garments  of  the  naked. 
The  fainting  thou  gavest  no  water  to  drink, 
and  from  the  hungry  thou  hast  withholden  bread. 

V.  2.  Can  a  man  profit  God, 

when  he  wisely  seeks  liis  own  profit? 
V.  4.  for  thy  piety ;  Others :  Will  he,  for  fear  of  thee,  con- 
fute thee  ? 

50 


JOB.  Chap.  xxii. 


But  the  man  of  might,  his  was  the  land; 
and  the  honored  one,   he  dwelt  therein. 
Widows  thou  hast  sent  empty  away, 
and  the  arms  of  the  orphans  were  broken. 
Therefore  snares  are  round  about  thee, 
and  fear  suddenly  confounds  thee ; 
or  darkness,   that  thou  canst  not  see ; 
and  the  flood  of  waters  covers  thee. 

Is  not  Grod  in  the  height  of  heaven? 
and  behold  the  summit  of  the  stars,  how  high ! 
And  thou  sayest:    How  does   Grod  know? 
can  he   judge  through  the  thick  cloud? 
Clouds  are  a  covering  to  him,  and  he  sees  not ; 
and  he  walks  upon  the  vault  of  heaven. 
Wilt  thou  keep  the  old  way, 
which  wicked  men  have   trodden? 
Who  were  seized  before  the  time ; 
their  foundation  was  poured  away  in  a  flood. 
Such  as  say  unto  God:   Depart  from  us; 
and,  What  can  the  Almighty  do  to  them? 
When  he  their  houses  had  filled  with  good : 
but  far  from  me  is  the  counsel  of  the  wicked! 
The  righteous  look  on,   and  rejoice ; 
and  the  innocent  mock  at  them : 


V.  15.  Dost  thou  mark  the  old  way 
51 


JOB.  Chap,  xxiii. 


Truly,  our  adversary  is  cut   off; 

and  what  is  left  to  them   a  fire  consumes. 

Now  acquaint  thyself  with  him,  and  be  at  peace ; 
thereby  shall  good  come  upon  thee. 
Take  now  the  law  from  his  mouth, 
and  lay  up  his  words  in  thy  heart.       [built  up, 
If  thou   return   to  the  Almighty,  thou  shalt  be 
if  thou  remove  wickedness  far  from  thy  dwellings. 
And  cast  to  the  dust  the  precious  ore, 
and  the  gold  of  Ophir  to  the  stones  of  the  brooks ; 
for  the  Almighty  will  be  thy  precious  ores, 
and  silver,  sought  with  toil,  for  thee. 
For  then  shalt  thou  have  delight  in  the  Almighty, 
and  shalt  lift  up  thy  face  unto  God. 
Thou  wilt  pray  to  him,  and  he  will  hear  thee; 
and  thou  wilt  perform  thy  vows. 
For  thou  wilt  purpose  a  thing,  and  it  shall  stand; 
and  light  will  shine  upon  thy  ways.       [lifting  up ! 
When  they  are  cast  down,  thou  shalt  say:  There  is 
and  the  meek-eyed  he  will  save. 
He  will  deliver  one  that  is  not  guiltless; 
and  he  shall  be  saved  by  the  pureness  of  thy  hands. 

Then  answered  Job,  and  said : 
Even  to-day,  my  complaint  is  frowardness ! 
The  hand  upon  me  is  heavier  than  my  groaning. 

V.  29.  When  they  are  depressed  V.  2.  is  bitter 


JOB.  Chap,  xxiii. 


O  that  I  knew  how  I  might  find  him, 
might  come  even  to  his  seat ! 
I  would  array  my  cause  before  him, 
and  fill  my  mouth  with  arguments. 
I  would  know  the  words  he  would  answer  me, 
and  mark  what  he  would  say  to  me. 
Would  he,  with  great  power,  contend  with  me? 
no !  he  surely  would  give  heed  to  me. 
There,  the  upright  might  reason  with  him ; 
and  I  should  be  delivered  for  ever  from  my  judge. 

Lo,  I  go  toward  the  east,  but  he  is  not  there, 
and  toward  the  west,  but  I  perceive  him  not ; 
toward  the  north  where  he  worketh,  but  I  behold 

him  not, 
he  covers  himself  in  the  south,  and  I  see  him  not. 
But  he  knows  the  way  that  I  take; 
when  he  tries  me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  the  gold. 
My  foot  has  held  fast  to  his  step ; 
bis  way  have  I  kept,  and  not  turned  aside. 
The  commandment  of  his  lips,  I  put  it  not  away; 
above  my  own  law,  I  prized  the  words  of  his  mouth. 
But  he  is  the  same,  and  who  can  turn  him? 
and  what  his  soul  desires  he  will  do.      [complish , 
Truly,  the   purpose    concerning   me  he  will   ac- 
and  many  such  things  are  with  him. 

V.  10.  the  way  within  me 
53 


JOB.  Chap.  xxiv. 


Therefore  do  I  tremble  before  him, 

I  consider,  and  am  afraid  of  him. 

And  God  makes  my  heart  soft, 

and  the  Almighty  confounds  me. 

For  I  should  not  be  dumb  because  of  darkness, 

because  thick  darkness  covers  me.  [mighty, 

Why,   if  times  are   not   hidden   from   the   Al- 
do  they  that  know  him  not  see  his  days  ? 

Landmarks  they  remove; 
flocks  they  seize  upon,  and  feed. 
The  orphans'  ass  they  drive  away; 
they  take  the  widow's  ox  for  a  pledge. 
They  turn  aside  the  needy  from  the  way ; 
all  the  oppressed  of  the  land  are  made  to  hide 
Lo,  as  wild-asses  in  the  wilderness,      [themselves, 
they  go  forth  to  their  toil,  searching  for  the  prey ; 
the  desert  to  him  is  bread  for  the  children. 
In  the  field,  they  reap  his  fodder, 
and  glean  the  vineyard  of  the  wicked. 
Naked  they  pass  the  night,  without  clothing, 
and  with  no   shelter  in  the  cold. 
They  are  wet  with  the  mountain  storm, 
and  cling  to  the  rock  for  want  of  refuge. 


V.  1.  'Why  are  times  not  treasured  up  by  the  Almighty, 

and  why  do  thc}^  that  know  him  not  see  his  days  ? 
V.  4.  all  the  poor  (V.  R.) 

54 


JOB.  Chap,  xxiv, 


The  orphan  is  torn  from  the  breast, 
and  on  the  sufierer  is  imposed  a  pledge. 
Naked  they  go   about,   without  clothing; 
and  hungry   they  bear  the   sheaves : 
prepare  oil  between  their  walls ; 
tread  the  w^inepresses, — and  thirst. 
For  anguish  do  the  dying  groan, 
and  the  soul  of  the  wounded  cries  out; 
and  God  heeds  not  the  prayer. 

There  are  they  who  rebel  against  light; 
they  know  not  its  ways, 
and  they  abide  not  in  its  paths. 
At  the  dawn,  the  murderer  rises  up ; 
he  slays  the  poor  and  needy  : 
and  by  night,  he  will  be  as  the  thief. 
And   the    eye  of  the    adulterer  watches   for   the 
saying :  No  eye  shall  see  me !  [twilight, 

and  puts  a   veil  over  the  foce. 
They  break  through  houses  in  the  darkness : 
by  day  they  shut  themselves  up ; 
they  know  not   the  light. 

For  morning  is  death-shade  to  them  all :       [shade ! 
when  one  can  discern,  it  is  the  terrors  of  death- 


V.  12.  Do  men  groan  (Y.  11.).    Otliers :  From  the  city  do  the 
dying  groan  lb.  the  wrong  (V.  II.) 

V.  17.  for  the  terrors  of  death-shade  they  know 
55 


JOB.  Chap.  xxv. 


Light  is  he  on  the  face  of  the  waters: 
accursed  is  the  portion  of  such  in  the  earth; 
he  turns  not  into  the  way  to  fruitful  fields. 
Drought  and  heat  bear  off  the  snow-water, — 
the  under-world  them  that  sin. 
The  womb  will  forget  him, 
when  the  worm  feeds  sweetly  on  him; 
he  will  no  more  be  remembered, 
and  iniquity  will  be  broken,   as  the  tree. 

He  despoils  the  barren  that  beareth  not; 
and  shows   no   kindness  to  the  widow. 
And  he  removes  the  strong  by  his  might ; 
he  rises  up,  and  no  one  is  sure  of  life  : 
he  grants  to  them  safety,  and  they  are  at  rest; 
and  his  eyes  are  upon  their  ways. 
They  rise  high  ;  a  little  while,  and  they  are  gone! 
they  are  brought  low ;  like  all  are  they  gathered, 
and  are  cut  ofl'  like  the  topmost  ears  of  corn. 

And  if  it  be  not  so,  who  then  will  prove  me  false, 
and  make  my  words  of  no  effect? 

Then  answered  Bildad  the  Shuhite,  and  said: 
Dominion  and  fear  are  with  him ; 
he  maketh  peace  in  his  high  places! 
Is  there  any  number  to  his  armies? 
and  on  whom  does  not  his  light  arise? 

V.  24.  like  all,  they  gather  themselves  up  to  die 
56 


JOB.  Chap.  xxvi. 


How  then  shall  man  be  just  with  God, 

and  how  shall  he  be  pure  that  is  born  of  woman? 

Lo,  even  the  moon,  it  shines  not, 

and  the  stars  are  not  pure  in  his  eyes. 

How  much  less  man,  a  grub! 

and  the  son  of  man,  a  worm! 

Then  answered  Job,  and  said: 
How  hast  thou  helped  the  powerless, 
succored  the  feeble  arm ! 
How  hast  thou  counseled  the  unwise; 
and  understanding  thou  has  taught  abundantly! 
By  whom  hast  thou  uttered  words, 
and  whose  breath  has  come  forth  from  thee? 

The  shades  tremble, 
beneath  the  waters  and  their  inhabitants! 
Naked  is  the  under- world  before  him, 
and  destruction  has  no  covering. 
He  stretched  out  the  north  over  empty  space; 
he  hanged  the  earth  upon  nothing. 
He  binds  up  the  waters  in  his  thick  clouds, 
and  the  cloud  is  not  rent  under  them. 
He  shuts  up  the  face  of  the  throne; 
he  spreads  upon  it  his  cloud. 
A  circling  bound  he  drew  on  the  face  of  the  waters, 
unto  the  limit  of  light  with  darkness. 

V.  4.  To  whom  lb.  and  whose  spirit 

57 


JOB.  Chap,  xxvii. 


The  pillars  of  heaven  tremble, 

and  are  astonished,  at  his  rebuke. 

By  his  power  he  quells  the  sea; 

and  by  his  wisdom  he  smites  down  pride. 

By  his  spirit  are  the  heavens  adorned; 

his  hand  formed  the  fleeing  Serpent. 

Lo,  these  are  the  borders  of  his  ways; 
and  what  a  w^iisper  of  a  word  is  that  we  hear! 
But  the  thunder  of  his  power  who  can  comprehend? 

And  again  Job  took  up  his  discourse,  and  said : 
As  God  liveth,  who  has  taken  away  my  right, 
and  the  Almighty,  who  has  afflicted  my  soul ; 
so  long  as  my  breath  is  in  me, 
and  the  spirit  of  God  is  in  my  nostrils; 
my  lips  shall  not  speak  wickedness, 
and  my  tongue  shall  not  utter  deceit. 
Far  be  it  from  me,  that  I  should  justify  you ; 
till  I  die,  I  will  not  put  away  my  integrity  from  me. 
My  righteousness  I  hold  fast,  and  will  not  let  it  go ; 
my  heart  reproaches  none  of  my  days. 
Let  my  enemy  be  as  the  wicked, 
and  he  that  rises  up  against  me,  as  the  unrighteous. 
For  what  is  the  hope  of  the  impure,  though  he 
when  God  shall  take  away  his  soul?       [despoil, 


V.  10.  exactly  dividing  light  and  darkness 

68 


JOB.  Chap,  xxvii. 


Will  God  hear  his  cry, 
when  distress  shall  come  upon  him? 
Will  he  delight  himself  in  the  Almighty? 
will  he  call  on  God,  at  all  times? 
I  will  teach  you,  concerning  God's  hand; 
what  is  with  the  Almighty  I  will  not  conceal. 
Lo,  all  ye  yourselves  have  seen  it; 
and  why  then  speak  ye  what  is  utterly  vain? 
This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  with  God, 
and  the  heritage  of  oppressors,  which  they  receive 

from  the  Almighty. 
If  his  children  multiply,  it  is  for  the  sword ; 
and  his  offspring  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  bread. 
In  the  pestilence  shall  they  that  remain  to  him  be 
and  his  widows  shall  not  bewail !  [buried, 

If  he  heap  up  silver,  as  the  dust, 
and  prepare  raiment,  as  the  clay; 
he  may  prepare,  but  the  just  shall  put  it  on, 
and  the  silver  shall  the  innocent  divide. 
He  builds,  like  the  moth,  his  house; 
and  as  a  booth,  which  the  watchman  makes. 
The  rich  man  shall  lie  down,  and  shall  not  be 
he  opens  his  eyes,  and  he  is  gone!       [gathered; 
Terrors,  like  the  waters,  shall  overtake  him; 
by  night,  the  whirlwind  snatches  him  away. 

V.  14.  If  his  children  grow  up 
59 


JOB.  Chap,  xxviii. 


The  East- wind  carries  him  away,  and  he  is  gone; 

yea,  it  hurls  him  out  of  his  place. 

For  He  shall  cast  at  him,  and  will  not  spare; 

he  would  fain  flee  out  of  his  hand. 

They  clap  their  hands  at  him, 

and  hiss  him  out  of  his  place. 

For  there  is  a  vein  for  the  silver, 
and  a  place  for  the  gold,  which  they  refine. 
Iron  is  taken  out  of  the  dust, 
and  stone  is  fused  into  copper. 
He  puts  an  end  to  the  darkness; 
and  he  searches  out,  to  the  very  end, 
stones  of  thick  darkness  and  of  death-shade. 
He  drives  a  shaft  away  from  man's  abode; 
forgotten  of  the  foot, 
they  swing  suspended,  far  from  men ! 
The  earth,  out  of  it  goes  forth  bread ; 
and  under  it,  is  destroyed  as  with  fire. 
A  place  of  sapphires,  are  its  stones ; 
and  it  has  clods  of  gold. 
The  path,  no  bird  of  prey  has  known  it, 
nor  the  falcon's  eye  glanced  on  it; 
nor  proud  beasts  trodden  it, 
nor  roaring  lion  passed  over  it. 


V.  2.  and  stone  pours  out  copper 
V.  3.  and  perfectly  he  searches  out 
60 


JOB.  Chap,  xxviii. 


Against  the  flinty  rock  he  puts  forth  his  hand; 
he  overturns  mountains,  from  the  hase. 
In  the  rocks  he  cleaves  out  rivers; 
and  his  eye  sees  every  precious  thing. 
He  binds  up  streams,  that  they  drip  not; 
and  the  hidden  he  brings  out  to  light. 

But  wisdom,  whence  shall  it  be  found? 
and  where  is  the  place  of  understanding? 
Man  knows  not  its  price; 
nor  is  it  found  in  the  land  of  the  living. 
The  deep  saith:  It  is  not  in  me; 
and  the  sea  saith:  It  is  not  with  me. 
Choice  gold  shall  not  be  given  in  exchange  for  it ; 
nor  shall  silver  be  weighed  for  its  price. 
It  cannot  be  weighed  with  gold  of  Ophir, 
with  the  precious  onyx  and  sapphire. 
Gold  and  glass  shall  not  be  compared  with  it, 
nor  vessels  of  line  gold  be  an  exchange  for  it. 
Corals  and  crystal  shall  not  be  named; 
and  the  possession  of  wisdom  is  more  than  pearls. 
The  topaz  of  Ethiopia  shall  not  be  compared  with 

it; 
it  shall  not  be  weighed  with  pure  gold. 

But  wisdom,  whence  comes  it? 
and  where  is  the  place  of  understanding? 


V.  16.  Gold  and  crystal 
61 


JOB.  Chap.  xxix. 


since  it  is  hidden  from  the  eyes  of  all  living, 

and  covered  from  the  fowls  of  heaven. 

Destruction  and  death  say: 

with  our  ears  have  we  heard  the  fame  of  it. 

God  understands  the  way  to  it, 

and  he  knows  the  place  of  it. 

For  he,  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  he  looks; 

and  he  sees  under  the  whole  heaven: 

to  make  the  weight  for  the  wind; 

and  he  meted  out  the  waters  by  measure. 

AVhen  he  made  a  decree  for  the  rain, 

and  a  track  for  the  thunders'  flash; 

then  he  saw,  and  he  declared  it; 

he  established  it,  yea  and  searched  it  out. 

And  to  man  he  said: 

Behold,  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  is  wisdom; 

and  to  depart  from  evil  is  understanding. 

And    again    Job    took    up    his    discourse,   and 
said: 
0  that  I  were  as  in  months  past, 
as  in  days  when  God  preserved  me: 
when  his  lamp  shined  over  my  head; 
by  his  light  I  walked  through  darkness. 
As  I  was  in  my  autumn  days, 
when  the  favor  of  God  was  over  my  dwelling; 
while  yet  the  Almighty  was  with  me, 
my  children  were  round  about  me; 

G2 


JOB.  Chap.  xxix. 


when  my  steps  were  bathed  in  milk, 
and  the  rock  poured  out  by  me  streams  of  oil. 
When  I  went  forth  to  the  gate  by  the  city, 
and  placed  my  seat  by  the  broad  way; 
young  men  saw  me,  and  hid  themselves, 
and  old  men  rose,  and  stood  up. 
Princes  refrained  from  words, 
and  laid  the  hand  upon  their  mouth. 
The  voice  of  Nobles  was  hushed, 
and  their  tongue  cleaved  to  their  palate. 
For  the  ear  heard,  and  blessed  me; 
and  the  eye  saw,  and  witnessed  for  me. 
Because  I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried, 
and  the  orphan,  and  him  that  had  no  helper. 
The  blessing  of  the  perishing  came  upon  me, 
and  the  heart  of  the  widow  I  made  to  sing  for  joy. 
I  put  on  righteousness ;  and  it  clothed  itself  with 
as  a  mantle  and  a  turban,  was  my  rectitude,    [me : 
I  was  eyes  to  the  blind, 
and  feet  was  I  to  the  lame. 
I  was  a  father  to  the  needy;  [out. 

and  the  cause  of  him  I  knew  not,  I  searched  it 
And  I  broke  the  fangs  of  the  wicked, 
and  from  his  teeth  I  dashed  the  prey. 

V.  7.  by  the  gate  up  to  the  city ;  others^  to  the  gate  up  to 
the  city 
V.  16.  and  the  cause  which  I  knew  not 
63 


JOB.  Chap.  xxx. 


And  I  said:  Surely,  I  shall  expire  in  my  nest; 

and  as  the  sand,  shall  I  multiply  da3^s; 

my  root  is  open  to  the  waters, 

and  the  dew  lies  all  night  on  my  branch; 

my  glory  is  fresh  upon  me, 

and  my  bow  is  renewed  in  my  hand. 

To  me  they  gave  ear,  and  waited; 
they  were  silent  for  my  counsel. 
After  my  w^ord,  they  spoke  not  again; 
and  my  speech  distilled  upon  them. 
Yea,  they  waited  for  me  as  for  the  rain,     [rain, 
and  opened  wide  their  mouth,  as  for  the  latter 
I  smiled  upon  them,  they  believed  it  not; 
nor  let  the  light  of  my  countenance  fall. 
Their  way  I  chose,  and  sat  as  chief, 
and  dwelt  as  king  in  the  host, 
as  one  who  comforts  the  mourning. 

But   now,    they   mock   at   me, 
they  who  are  inferior  to  me  in  years; 
whose    fathers    I    disdained, 
to   set   with   the  dogs   of   my   flock. 
Even  the  strength  of  their  hands,  what  is  it  to  me, 
they  in  whom  old  age  is  perishing? 
with  want  and  with  hunger  famished  f      [lation; 
who  feed  on  the  desert,  the  darkness  of  utter  deso- 


V.  3.  who  feed  on  the  desert,  of  old  an  utter  desolation 
64 


JOB.  CHAP.    XXX. 


who  pluck  the  salt-plant  by  the  bushes, 

and  broom-roots  are  their  food. 

From  the  midst  are  they  driven  forth; 

they  cry  out  against  them,  as  against  the  thief; 

to  dwell  in  gloomy  gorges, 

in  holes  of  the  earth  and  rocks. 

They  bray  among  the  bushes ; 

stretch  themselves  beneath  the  brambles. 

Sons  of  the  foolish,  yea,  sons  of  infamy ! 

they  are  beaten  out  of  the  land. 

And  now,  I  am  become  their  song; 
yea,  I  am  become  a  b3^e-word  for  them. 
They  abhor  me ;  they  stand  aloof  from  me ; 
they  forbear  not  to  spit  before  my  face. 
Because  He  has  let  loose  his  rein  and  humbled  me, 
they  also  cast  off  the  bridle  before  me. 

On  the  right  hand  rises  up  a  brood; 
my  feet  they  thrust  aside; 

they  cast  up  against  me  their  ways  of  destruction. 
They  break  up  my  path; 
they  aid  on  my  fall ; 
there  is  no  helper  against  them! 
As  at  a  wide  breach,  they  come  in; 
they  roll  on  beneath  the  ruin. 


V.  11.  has  relaxed  my  rein  (V.  K.)      V.  13.  among  them 
V.  14.  they  roll  on  with  a  crash 
C5 


JOB.  Chap.  xxx. 


Terrors  are  turned  against  me; 

they  chase  away,  like  the  wind,  my  princely  state, 

and  my  prosperity  has  passed  like  the  cloud. 

And  now,  my  soul  is  poured  out  within  me ; 
the  days  of  trouble  have  taken  hold  of  me.      [me, 
By  night,  my  bones  are  pierced  and  severed  from 
and  my  gnawers  take  no  rest 
By  sore  violence,  my  covering  is  disfigured; 
like  my  inner  garment  it  girds  me  round. 
He  has  cast  me  into  the  mire, 
and  I  am  become  like  the  dust  and  ashes. 
I  cry  unto  thee,  and  thou  answerest  me  not; 
I  stand,  and  thou  observest  me. 
Thou  art  become  cruel  to  me; 
with  thy  strong  hand  thou  liest  in  wait  for  me. 
Thou  dost  lift  me  to  the  wind,  and  let  me  be  borne 
and  be  dissolved  in  the  tempest's  crash.        [away, 
For  I  know  thou  wilt  bring  me  to  death, 
and  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  the  living. 
Yea,  there  is  no  prayer,  when  He  stretches  out  the 

hand; 
nor,  when  He  destroj^'s,  can  they  cry  for  help. 

Verily,  I  have  wept  for  him  whose  lot  is  hard, 
and  my  soul  has  sorrowed  for  the  needy. 


V.  17.  my  bones  are  bored  out  from  me 
V.  25.  Have  I  not  wept      lb.  and  my  soul  sorrowed 
66 


JOB.  Chap.  xxxi. 


When  I  looked  for  good,  then  evil  came; 
and  I  waited  for  light,  but  there  came  darkness. 
My  bowels  are  made  to  boil,  and  have  no  rest; 
the  days  of  trouble  have  overtaken  me. 
I  go  blackened,  but  not  with  sun-heat: 
I  stand  up  in  the  congregation,  I  implore  help. 
I  am  become  a  brother  to  Jackals, 
and  a  companion  to  the  Ostrich-brood. 
My  skin  blackens  and  falls  from  me, 
and  my  bones  are  dried  up  with  heat. 
And  my  harp  is  turned  to  mourning, 
and  my  pipe  to  sounds  of  the  weeping. 

I  MADE  a  covenant  for  my  eyes; 
how  then  should  I  look  upon  a  maid? 
For  what  is  the  portion  God  assigns  from  above, 
and  the  allotment  of  the  Almighty,  from  on  high  ? 
Is  not  destruction  for  the  wicked, 
and  calamity  for  the  workers  of  iniquity? 
He,  does  he  not  see  my  ways, 
and  number  all  my  steps? 
If  I  have  walked  with  falsehood, 
and  my  foot  has  hastened  towards  deceit; 
He  will  weigh  me  in  scales  of  justice, 
yea,  God  will  know  my  innocence. 


V.  26.  For  I  looked  for  good,  and  there  came  evil; 
and  I  waited  for  light,  but  darkness  came. 
67 


JOB.  Chap.  xxxi. 


If  my  step  has  turned  aside  from  the  way, 

and  my  heart  has  gone  after  my  eyes, 

and  a  stain  has  cleaved  to  my  hands; 

Let  me  sow,  and  another  eat, 

and  let  my  products  be  rooted  up  ! 

If  my  heart  has  been  enticed  towards  a  woman, 

and  I  have  lain  in  wait  at  my  neighbor's  door; 

let  my  wife  grind  for  another, 

and   let   others   lie  with   her. 

For  that  is  wickedness ; 

yea,  that  is  a  crime  for  the  judges. 

For  it  is  a  fire;   to  destruction  will  it  consume, 

and   root   out   all   my   increase. 

If  I  spurn  my  servant's  and  my  handmaid's  right, 
in  their  controversy  with  me; 
then  what  shall  I  do,  when  God  ariseth? 
and  when  he  visiteth,  what  shall  I  answer  him? 
Did  not  he,  who  made  me  in  the  womb,  make  him? 
and  has  not  One  formed  us  in  the  womb? 
If  I  keep  back  the  weak  from  their  desire, 
and  make  the  eyes  of  the  widow  consume  away; 
and   eat   my   morsel   alone, 

and  the  orphan  hath  not  eaten  of  it;  [father, 
(for  from  my  youth,  he  grew  up  to  me  as  to  a 
and  I  have  been  her  guide,  from  my  mother's  womb) : 

V.  13.  If  I  refuse. 


JOB.  Chap.  xxxi. 


If  I  see  one  perishing  for  want  of  clothes, 

and  that  the  needy  hath  no  covering ; 

if  his  loins  have  not  blessed  me, 

and  he  has  not  been  warmed  from  the  fleece  of  my 

lambs : 
If  I  have  shaken  my  hand  at  the  orphan, 
because  I  saw  my  helper  in  the  gate: 
let  my  shoulder  fall  from  its  shoulder-blade, 
and  my  fore-arm  be  broken  from  its  bone ! 
For  to  me,  destruction  from  God  is  a  terror; 
and  before  his  majesty  I  am  powerless. 

If  I    made   gold   my   hope, 
and  said  to  the  fine  gold :   My  trust ! 
If  I  rejoiced,  because  my  wealth  was  great, 
and  because  my  hand  hath  gotten  much: 
If  I   saw  the   sun,    how   it   shined, 
and   the   moon   walking   in   majesty; 
and   my   heart   in   secret   was   beguiled, 
and   my   hand   my   mouth   hath   kissed: 
This   too   were   a   crime   to   be   judged; 
for  I  should  have  been  false  to  God  on  high. 

If  I   rejoiced   in   my   enemy's    calamity, 
and   triumphed   when   evil   befell   him; 
(yea,  I  suffered  not  my  mouth  to  sin, 
to   ask,   with   cursing,   for  his   life): 


V.  21.  when  I  saw 
69 


JOB.  Chap.  xxxi. 


If  the  men  of  my  tent  have  not  said, 

where  is  one,  that  with  his  meat  has  not  been 

filled! 
(the  stranger  passed  not  the  night  without ; 
my   doors   I   opened   to   the   traveler) : 
If  I  have  covered  like  Adam  my  transgression, 
to    hide   my   iniquity   in   my   bosom: 
Then   let   me   dread   the   great   assembly, 
and  let  the  contempt  of  the  tribes  confound  me; 
and  let  me  hold  my  peace,  nor  go  forth  at  the  door! 

O  that  I  had  one  who  would  hear   me ! 
behold  my  sign;  let  the  Almighty  answer  me, 
and   my   adversary   write    a    charge. 
Verily,  on  my  shoulder  would  I  bear  it; 
I  would  bind  it  on,  as  a  crown  for  me ! 
All   my   steps    would  I    show   him, 
as   to   a  prince   would   I    go   near   him. 

If  my   land   cries   out   against   me, 
and   all   its   furrows   weep; 
if  I   have   eaten   its   fruits   without   pay, 
and  made  its  tenants  sigh  out  their  breath: 


V.  33.  like  men 
V.  35.  0  that  I  had  one  who  would  hear  me, 

(behold  my  sign ;  let  the  Almighty  answer  me) 
and  the  charge  my  adversary  has  written. 
V.  37.  as  a  prince 

70 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxii. 


let  thorns  come  forth,  in  place  of  wheat, 
and   weeds,    in   place    of   barley. 

The  words  of  Job  are  ended. 

So  these  three  men  ceased  from  answering  Job, 
because  he  was  righteous  in  his  own  eyes. 

Then  was  kindled  the  anger  of  Elihu  son  of 
Barachel  the  Buzite,  of  the  family  of  Ram.  Against 
Job  was  his  anger  kindled,  because  he  accounted 
himself  more  just  than  God :  and  against  his  three 
friends  was  his  anger  kindled ;  because  they  had 
found  no  answer,  and  yet  had  condemned  Job. 
But  Elihu  had  delayed  answering  Job,  because 
they  were  older  than  he.  And  Elihu  saw  that 
there  was  no  answer  in  the  mouth  of  the  three 
men,  and  his  anger  was  kindled. 

Then  answered  Elihu,  son  of  Barachel  the  Buz- 
ite, and  said : 

Young  am   I   in   years, 
and   ye   are   men   of  age : 
therefore   I   was   afraid, 
and   feared   to   show   you   my   opinion. 
I    said :   Days   should   speak, 
and  the  multitude  of  years  teach  wisdom. 
But  a  spirit  there  is  in  man ;  [standing, 

and  the  breath  of  the  Almighty  gives  them  under- 

V.  8.  But  the  spirit  is  it,  in  man, 

even  the  breath  of  the  Almighty,  that  gives  them  un- 
derstanding. 

71 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxii. 


Not  the   great   are   wise, 
nor  do   the   old   understand   the   right. 
Therefore    I   said :    Hearken   to   me ; 
I   will   show,    I   also,   my   opinion. 

Behold,  I  have  waited  for  your  words ; 
have   given   ear   to   your   reasonings, 
whilst   ye    searched   out   words. 
And   unto   you   I   gave   heed; 
and  lo,  Job  has  none  that  confutes  him, 
none  of  you  that  answers  his  words. 
That  ye  may  not  say :  We  have  found  out  wisdom ; 
that  God  may  thrust  him  down,  not  man. 
For  he  has  not  directed  words  against  me ; 
nor  withvyour  words  will  I  answer  him. 

They  were  confounded;  they  answered  no  more: 
words  were  taken  away  from  them. 
And  I  waited,  because  they  spoke  not; 
b  if  ni\  ^^^y  stood  still,  and  answered  no  more. 
Ii  i   all   i'    ^^    "^y   P^^^   ^^^^^^  answer ; 
T I   have  '^^^'   ^   ^^^0,   my   opinion. 
For   -'^.^lm   filled   with   words; 
the   spirit   within   me   constrains   me. 


V.  11.  till  ye  should  search  out  words 

V.  13.  Say  not:  We  have  found  out  wisdom; 

God  shall  thrust  him  down,  not  man. 
V.  15.  words  had  departed  from  them 

72 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxin. 


Behold,    my    breast    is    as    wine    that    has    no 

vent ; 
like   new   bottles   that   are   bursting. 
I    will   speak,    and   be   relieved; 
I   will    open   my   lips,    and   will    answer. 
Let   me   not   regard   tiie   person  of  man ; 
nor   will   I   give   flattery   to    a   man. 
For   I   know   not   how   to   flatter : 
speedily   would   my   Maker  take   me   away! 

But    hear   nov/,    0    Job,    my   sayings, 
and   give   ear   to    all   my   words. 
Lo    now,    I   have   opened   my   mouth, 
my    tongue   has   spoken   in   my   palate. 
My  words,  they  are  the  integrity  of  my  heart, 
and   my  lips    speak   knowledge   purely. 
The    Spirit   of  God    made   me, 
and  the  breath  of  the  Almighty  gives  me  life. 
If  thou   art   able,    answer   me ; 
array  thyself  against  me,  take  thy  stand. 
Lo,   I   am    of  God   as   thou   art ; 
I    too    was   taken   from   the    clay. 
Lo,  the  dread  of  me  will  not  make  thee  afraid, 
nor  my   burden   be   heavy   upon  thee. 

But    thou   hast   said   in   my   ears, 
and   the   sound   of  the   words   I   heard: 
I   am    pure,    without   transgression ; 
I    am   clean,    and   have   no   guilt. 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxiii. 


Lo,   he   devises   quarrels   against   me, 

he   regards   me   as   his   enemy. 

He   puts   my   feet   in   the   stocks; 

he   watches   all   my   paths. 

Lo,  in  this  thou  art  not  just;  I  will  answer  thee: 

for   God   is   greater   than   man. 

Wherefore   dost   thou   contend   with   him? 

for  of  none  of  his  affairs  will  he  give  account. 

For   once   does    God   speak, — 

yea   twice, — when   one    heeds   it   not : 

in   a   dream,    a   vision   of  the   night, 

when   deep   sleep   falls   on   men, 

in   slumbers   upon   the   bed. 

Then   opens   he   the   ear   of  men, 

and    seals   up    their   instruction : 

that   man   may   put   away   a   deed, 

and   he   may   cover   pride   from   man ; 

may   keep  back   his   soul   from   the   pit, 

and   his   life   from   perishing   by    the   dart. 

And  he  is  chastened  with  pain  upon  his  bed ; 
and  with  a  strife  in  his  bones  continually. 
And  his   spirit   abhorreth   bread, 
and  his   soul   dainty  food. 


V.  13.  for  of  none  of  his  words j   Others:  for  none  of  his 
words  will  He  answer 

V.  19.  and  the  strife  in  his  bones  is  continual  Y.  20.  his  life 

74 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxiii. 


His   flesh   wastes   away   from   sight ; 

and  naked  are  his  bones,  that  were  not  seen. 

And  his  soul  conies  nigh  to  the  pit, 

and  his   life   to   the   destroyers. 

If  there   be   a   messenger   with   him, 

an   interpreter,    one   out   of  a   thousand, 

to   show   unto   man  his   right   way: 

then  will  He  have  mercy  on  him,  and  say; 

deliver  him   from   going   down   to   the   pit; 

I   have   found   a   ransom. 

His   flesh  becomes   fresher   than   in   childhood ; 

he   shall   return   to   the    days   of  his   youth. 

He  shall  pray  to  God ;  and  He  will  accept  him, 

and  cause  him  to  behold  His  face  with  joy, 

and  will  render  back  to  man  his  righteousness. 

He  will  chant  it  before  men,   and  say: 

I  have  sinned,  and  have  perverted  the  right; 

and   it   was   not   requited   me. 

He  has  redeemed  my  soul  from  going  into  the  pit, 

and  my  life,  that  it  may  behold  the  light. 

Lo,    all   these   things   doth   God, 
twice,   yea   thrice,    with   man: 
to   bring   back    his   soul   from   the   pit, 
that  he  may  be  lightened  with  the  light  of  life. 


V.  23.  to  show  unto  man  His  rectitude 
V.  27.  and  it  availed  me  not 
75 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxiv. 


Attend,    O   Job;   hearken   unto   me: 
keep   silence,  that   I   may   speak. 
If  there    are   words,    answer   me; 
speak,   for   I   desire   to  justify   thee. 
If  not,    do   thou   hearken   unto   me ; 
keep  silence,  and  I  will  teach  thee  wisdom. 

And   Ehhu   answered,    and   said : 
Hear   ye   wise   men   my   words ; 
and   ye   knowing   ones   give   ear   to   me. 
For   the   ear    trieth   words, 
even   as   the   palate   tastes   to    eat. 
Let   us   examine   for   ourselves   the   right, 
let   us   know    among   us   what   is   good. 
For   Job   has    said :    I    am   righteous ; 
and    God   has   taken    away   my   right: 
against   my   right,   shall   I   speak   false? 
my   arrow   is   fatal,    without   transgression. 
Who   is   a   man   like   Job, 
that   drinks   in   scotling,    like   water ; 
and    walks   in    company   with   evil-doers, 
and   goes   with    wicked   men  V 
For   he   has   said :    A  man   is   not   profited, 
when   he   takes   delight   with    God. 

Therefore,  men  of  understanding,  hearken  to  me 
far   from   God   be   wickedness, 
and   iniquity   from   the   Almighty ! 

V.  4.  Let  us  choose 

Y.  6.  notwithstanding  ray  right,  I  am  a  Har 
76 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxiv. 


For  man's   work   will   he   requite   to   him, 
and  let  each  one  receive  according  to  his  way. 
Yea,    of  a   truth,    God   will   not   do   evil, 
nor   will   the   Almighty   pervert  justice. 
Who   has   committed   to   him   the   earth? 
and  who  founded  the  whole  habitable  world? 
Should    He   set   his   thoughts   upon   him, 
withdraw  to  himself  his  spirit  and  his  breath ; 
all   flesh   would   expire   together, 
and   man   return   to   dust. 

If  now  there  is  understanding,  hear  thou  this; 
give   ear  to   the  voice   of  my   words. 

Can  he  indeed  bear  rule,  that  hateth  right? 
or  wilt  thou  condemn  the  Just,  the  Mighty? 
Shall   one   say   to   a   king:    0   Worthless! 
O    Wicked !    unto   princes ; 

to  Him  who  regards  not  the  persons  of  princes, 
nor  knows   the   rich   more   than   the   poor? 
for  they   are   all   the   work   of  his   hands. 
In   a   moment   they   die; 

at  midnight,  the  people  are  smitten  and  pass  away, 
and   the    mighty  is   removed  without   hand. 
For  his   eyes   are   on   each   one's   ways, 
and  he   sees   all   his   steps. 


V.  14.  upon  himself 

V.  20.  the  people  quake ;  or,  the  people  reel 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxiv. 


There   is   no   darkness,    and   no    death-shade, 

where  the  workers  of  iniquity  can  hide  themselves. 

For  not  again  does  He  set  his  thoughts  upon  one, 

that   he   may   go    to    God  in  judgment; 

he  breaks   the   mighty,    without   inquisition, 

and   sets   up   others   in   their   stead. 

He   therefore   knows   their   works ; 

and  in  a  night  he  overturns,  and  they  are  destroyed. 

As   the   wicked   does   he   smite   them, 

in   the   place   where   men   look   on. 

Because   they   turned   from   after   him. 

and   regarded   none   of  his   ways ; 

to  bring  up   to  him  the   cry  of  the  weak, 

and  that  he  may  hear  the  cry  of  the  afflicted. 

For   he   gives   rest,    and   who   shall    condemn! 

he  hides  the  face,  and  who  shall  behold  it! 

toward  a  nation,  and  toward  a  man,  alike ; 

from   the   ruling    of  corrupt   men, 

from   snares   of  the   people. 

Surely,   to   God   it   should   be   said : 
I  have  borne  it ;  I  will  not  be  perverse. 
Beyond  what  I  see  do  thou  teach  me ; 
if  I  have  done  evil,  I  will  do  it  no  more. 


V.  25.  Because  he  beholds 
V.  27.  Who  therefore  turned 
V.  28.  that  they  might  bring 
V.  29.  shall  disturb      • 


JOB.  Chap.  xxxv. 


Shall  he  according  to  thy  mind  requite  it, 
that   thou    dost   refuse, — 
that  thou   thyself  wilt   choose   and   not  I? 
then   what    thou    knowest    speak. 

Men   of  understanding    will   say   to    me, 
even    the    wise    man   who   listens    to   me : 
Job    speaks    without   knowledge, 
and   his   words    are    without    wisdom. 
My  desire  is,  that  Job  may  be  tried  to  the  end, 
for   answers   in   the   manner   of  evil   men. 
For   he   adds   rebellion    to   his   sin ; 
in   the   midst    of  us   he   mocks, 
and   multiplies   his   words   against    God. 

And  Elihu  answered,  and  said: 
This    dost   thou   regard   as   right, — 
my  righteousness,  thou  saidst,  is  more  than  God's? 
For  thou  sayest:  What  will  it  profit  thee; 
what  shall  I  gain  more  than  by  my  sin? 
I    will   make    answer   to   thee, 
and   to    thy   friends,   with   thee. 
Look   to   the   heavens,    and    see; 
and  survey  the  skies,  that  are  high  above  thee. 
If  thou  hast  sinned,  what  dost  thou  against  him? 
and  are  thy  offenses  many,  what  dost  thou  unto 
him? 

V.  3G.  I  would  that 
79 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxvi. 


If  thou  art  righteous,  what  givest  thou  to  him? 
or  what  will  he  take  from  thy  hand? 
For  a  man,  like  thyself,  is  thy  wrong; 
and  for  a  son  of  man,  thy  righteousness. 

For  the  multitude  of  oppressions  they  cry  out; 
they  cry  for  help,  because  of  the  arm  of  the  mighty. 
But  they  say  not:  Where  is  God  my  Maker, 
who   giveth   songs   in    the   night! 
who  has  taught  us  more  than  the  beasts  of  the  earth, 
and  made  us  wiser  than  the  birds  of  heaven. 
There    cry   they,  and   he    answers   not, 
because    of  the   pride   of  evil   men. 
Surely,   vanity   will    God   not   hear,  '^ 

nor   will   the   Almighty   regard   it. 
Much  less  when  thou  saycst :  Thou  regardest  him 

not! 
the  cause  is  before  him ;  and  wait  thou  for  him. 
But   now,   because   his   anger   visits   not, 
nor   does   he   strictly   mark   the   offense; 
therefore.   Job  fills  his  mouth  with  vanity, 
he    multiplies   words   without  knowledge. 

And   Elihu   added,    and   said: 
Wait  for  me  a  little,  that  I  may  show  thee; 
for   there   are   yet   words   for   God. 


Y.  14.  Thou  beholdest  him  not 
V.  15.  the  folly;  or,  the  pride 

80 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxvi. 


I   will  bring   my   knowledge   from   afar; 
and   will   render  justice   to   my   Maker. 
For  verily,    my   words    are    not   falsehood; 
one   perfect  in   knowledge   is   before   thee. 

Lo,  God  is  mighty,  but  he  contemns  not; 
mighty   in   strength   of  understanding. 
He   will   not   prosper   the   wicked; 
and  the  right  of  the  suffering  he  will  grant. 
His  eyes  he  withholds  not  from  the  righteous; 
and   with   kings   on   the   throne, 
he  makes  them  sit  forever,  and  they  are  exalted. 
And   when,   bound   with   chains, 
they   are   held   in   the  bonds   of  affliction; 
then   he   shows   to    them    their   deed, 
and  their  transgressions,  that  they  deal  proudly; 
and   opens   their   ears   to   the   instruction, 
and  'commands  that  they  turn  from  iniquity. 
If  they   hear   and   obey, 
their   days   they   shall   spend   in   prosperity, 
and  their   years  in   pleasures. 
But  if  they  hear  not,  by  the  dart  they  perish, 
and   expire   without   knowledge. 
So   the   impure   in   heart   lay   up   wrath; 
they  cry  not  for  help  when  he  binds  them. 

V.  9.  and  he  shows  V.  10.  from  iniquity ; 

V.  11.  if  they 

81 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxvi. 


Their   breath   shall   expire   in   youth, 
and   their   life  -with   the   unclean. 

The   sufferer  he   delivers   in   his   affliction, 
and   in   distress   he   opens   their   ear. 
Thee  too  he  lures  from  the  jaws  of  the  strait, 
to  a  broad  place  with  no  narrows  beyond  it; 
and  thy  table  in  peace,  filled  with  fatness! 
But  if  thou  art  filled  with  the  judgment  of  the 

wicked, 
judgment  and  justice  will  lay  hold  of  thee. 
For    beware,    lest    anger    stir    thee    up    against 

chastisement, 
and  a  great  ransom  shall  not  deliver  thee. 
Will   he   value    thy   riches    without    stint, 
and   all   the   might   of  wealth? 
Long   not   for   that   night, 
where   the   nations    are    gathered   to    the   world 

below  them. 
Take   heed,    turn   not   to   iniquity ; 
for   this   thou   choosest   rather   than   affliction. 


V.  16.  and  the  provision  of  thy  table 

V.  17.  But  if  thou  fill  up  the  guilt  of  the  wicked, 

guilt  and  punishment  take  hold  on  each  other. 
V.  18.  nor  let  the  great  ransom  lead  thee  astray 
V.  19.  Will  he  regard  thy  riches  1 

not  precious  ore,  nor  all  the  might  of  wealth 
82 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxvi. 


Lo,  God  shows  himself  great  in  his  power; 
who   is   a   teacher   lii^e    to   him? 
Who    appoints    to    him    his    way? 
and   who    says:    Thou    hast   done    wrong? 
Remember,    that   thou   magnify   his    work, 
which   men   do    sing. 
All    men    gaze   thereon ; 
man   beholds   from    afar. 
Lo,    God   is   great,   and   we   know   him   not; 
the   number   of  his   years,    it   is   unsearchable. 
For   he   draws   up    the   water-drops ; 
rain,    of  his   vapor,    they   refine; 
with    which   the   skies   flow    down, 
they   distill   on   man   abundantly. 
Yea,  can  one  comprehend  the  bursting  of  the  cloud, 
the    crash   of  his   pavilion? 
Lo,    around   him    he   spreads   his   light, 
and   covers   over   with    ocean-depths. 
For   therewith    rules   he   nations, 
gives   food   in    abundance. 

The  palms  of  the  hands  he  covers  over  with  light, 
and  gives  it  a  command  against  the  enemy. 

V.  24.  which  men  survey  V.  28.  on  multitudes  of  men 

V.  29.  the  outspreading  of  the  cloud 
V.  30.  Lo,  he  spreads  thereon  his  light, 

and  covers  over  the  ocean-depths. 
V.  32.  against  the  object 

83 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxivi. 


His   thunder  tells   of  him ; 

to  the  herds,  even  of  Him  who  is  on  high. 

Yea,    at   this   my   heart   trembles, 
and   starts   up   from   its   place. 
Hearken  attentively  to  the  roar  of  his  voice, 
and  the  rumbling  that  goes  forth  from  his  mouth. 
He  directs  it  under  the  whole  heavens, 
and  his  light  over  the  margins  of  the  earth. 
After   it   a   sound   roareth; 
he   thunders   with   his   voice   of  majesty; 
nor  lets  them  linger  when  his  voice  is  heard. 
God  thunders  marvelously  with  his  voice; 
great  things  does  he,  and  we  understand  not. 
For  to  the  snow  he  says :  Be  thou  on  the  earth ; 
and   to    the    pouring   rain, 
even   the   pouring   of  his    mighty   rains. 
The   hand    of  every   man    he    seals    up, 
that   all   the   men    he    has   made   may   know; 
find    beasts   go    into    the    lair, 
and   in    their   dens   abide. 

Out  of  the  secret  chamber  comes  the  whirlwind, 
and   cold   out   of  the   north. 


V.  33.  who  ascends  on  high 
V.  1.  and  flutters  out  of  its  place 
V.  3.  He  sends  it  forth  under 
V.  6.  Fall  thou  on  the  earth 
Y.  9.  and  from  the  north-winds  cold 
8-1 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxvii. 


By   the   breath   of  God  there   is   ice, 
and  the  breadth  of  the  waters  is  straitened. 
Yea,  with  moisture  he  loads  the  thick  cloud, 
he    spreads   his   lightning-cloud    abroad; 
and  it  turns  with  his  guidance  every  way, 
that    they   may   do    all   he    commands, 
over   the   face    of  the   habitable   earth ; 
whether   as   a   scourge,    for   its   land, 
or   as    a   kindness   he    allots   it. 

Give   ear   to   this,    0   Job ; 
stand   and   consider   the    wonders   of  God. 
Dost  thou   know,   when   God   sets   his   thoughts 

upon    them, 
and   the   light   of  his   cloud   blazes   forth? 
Understandest  thou  the  balancing  of  the  clouds ; 
the   wonders    of  the   Perfect   in   knowledge? 
What   time   thy   garments    are   hot, 
when  he  lulls  the  earth  with  the  south  wind; 
dost   thou   with   him   spread   out   the   skies, 
firm   as   the   molten   mirror? 
Teach   us   what   we   shall   say   to   him ; 
for   we   cannot   order   it   because    of  darkness. 
Shall  it  be  told  him,  that  I  would  speak? 
or  does,  one  say  a  thing,  that  he  may  be  swallowed 

V.  12.  according  as  they  do  V.  13.  for  his  earth 

V.  15.  when  God  gives  them  the  charge 

85 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxviii. 


For   now,    they   look   not   on   the   light, 

when    it   is    shining   in   the   skies, 

and  the  wind  has  passed  over  and  cleared  them. 

Out    of  the   north    comes    gold ; 

with    God    there   is   terrible    majesty. 

The    Almighty,    we    cannot   find   him    out ; 

great   in    power   and   rectitude, 

and  in  fullness  of  justice;  he  will  not  oppress. 

Therefore    do    men    fear   him ; 

he   regards    not   any    of  the   wise   in   heart. 

Then  Jehovah  answered  Job  out  of  the  storm ; 
and  he  said: 

Who    is   this,    that   darkens    counsel, 
by   words   without   knowledge? 
Gird   up    now    thy    loins    like   a   man; 
and  I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  inform  thou  me. 
Where  wast  thou,  when  I  founded  the  earth? 
declare,   if  thou   hast   understanding. 
Who  fixed  its  measures,  that  thou  shouldst  know? 
or   who    stretched   the   line   upon   it? 
Whereon   were   its   foundations    sunken  ? 
or   who    laid   its    corner-stone; 
when    the   morning-stars   sang   together, 
and   all    the    sons    of   God   shouted    for   joy ! 


V.  5.  Who  fixed  its  measures  (for  thou  linowest)  ? 

8G 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxviii. 


And   he   shut   up   the   sea   with   doors, 

when  it  burst  forth,  came  out  from  the  womb. 

When   I   made    the    cloud   its    garment,  « 

and   the   thick   cloud   its   swathing-band; 

and   appointed   it    my  bound, 

and   set   bars   and   doors ; 

and  said :  Thus  far  shalt  thou  come,  and  no  farther, 

and  here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed ! 

Hast    thou,    since    thy    days,    commanded    the 
morning, 
made   the    dayspring   to   know   its   place ; 
that  it  might  take  hold  on  the  margins  of  the  earth, 
and   the   wicked   be   shaken   out   of  it? 
It   is   changed   like    the   signet-clay; 
and   they   stand   forth    as   in   gay   apparel. 
And  from  the  wicked  is  their  light  withheld; 
and   the   uplifted   arm   is   broken. 

Hast  thou  come  to  the  springs  of  the  sea, 
and   walked   in    the   recesses    of   the   deep? 
Have  the  gales  of  death  been  opened  to  thee; 
and  the  gates  of  death-shade  dost  thou  behold? 
Hast  thou  surveyed  even  to  the  breadths  of  earth? 
declare,    if   thou   knowest    it   all. 

What  is  the  way  to  where  light  dwells; 
and   darkness,   where  is   its   abode? 


V.  14.  and  they  stand  forth  as  a  vestment 
87 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxviii. 


That  thou  shouldst  bring  it  to  its  bounds, 
and  that  thou  shouldst  know  the  paths  to  its  house ! 
T1k)u  knowest;  for  then  wast  thou  born, 
and  the  number  of  thy  years  is  great ! 

Hast  thou  come  to  the  treasuries  of  snow, 
and  the  treasuries  of  hail  dost  thou  behold; 
which  I  have  reserved  for  the  time  of  distress, 
for   the   day   of  conflict   and   war? 

What  is  the  way  to  where  light  is  dispensed, 
and  the  east- wind  spreads  over  the  earth? 
Who   divided   channels   for   the   rain, 
and   a    track   for   the   thunders'   flash; 
to  cause  rain  on  a  land  without  men, 
a    wilderness   wherein   is   no   man; 
to   satisfy   the   wilds   and   wastes, 
and  cause  the  springing  grass  to  grow? 

Is   there    a   father   to   the   rain  ? 
or  who  has  begotten  the  drops  of  dew? 
Out  of  whose  womb  came  forth  the  ice? 
and  the  hoar-frost  of  heaven,  who  has  begotten  it? 
As   in   stone   are   the   waters   hidden, 
and  the  face  of  the  deep  cleaves  fast  together. 

Dost  thou  bind  the  soft  influences  of  the  Pleiads, 
or   loose   the   bands    of  Orion? 


V.  20.  For  thou  dost  bring  it  to  its  bounds, 
and  knowest  the  paths  to  its  house 
88 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxix. 


Dost  thou  lead  forth  the  Signs  in  their  season; 
and  the  Bear  witli  her  young,  dost  thou  guide 

them  ? 
Knowest  thou  the  ordinances  of  the  heavens; 
or  dost  thou  establish  their  dominion  over  earth? 
Dost  thou  lift  thy  voice .  to  the  clouds, 
and  a  flood  of  waters  shall  cover  thee? 
Dost  thou  send  forth  lightnings,  and  they  go; 
and   say   to    thee:    Here   are   we! 
Who    put    wisdom   in    the    reins, 
or  who  gave  to  the  spirit  understanding? 
Who  numbers  the  clouds  by  wisdom, 
and  who  inclines  the  bottles  of  the  heavens; 
when  dust  is  poured  into  a  molten  mass, 
and   clods   cleave   fast   together? 

Dost  thou  hunt  the  prey  for  the  lioness, 
and  the  craving  of  the  young  lions  dost  thou  fill; 
when  they  crouch  down  in  the  dens, 
lie   in   ambush   in    the    covert? 
Who   provides   for   the   raven   its   prey, 
when  its  young  ones  cry  unto  God, 
wander   without   food ! 

Dost  thou  know  the  time  the  wild  rock-goats 
bear, 
observe  when  the  hinds  are  in  labor?    . 


V.  36.  or  who  gave  understanding  to  the  heart 
89 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxix. 


Dost  thou  number  the  months  they  fulfill, 
and  know  the  time  of  their  bringing  forth? 
They  bow  themselves,  they  bring  forth  their  young, 
they    cast   away    their   pains. 
Their  young  mature,  grow  up  in  the  field, 
go  forth,   and  return   not  to  them. 
Who  sent  out  the   wild-ass  free, 
and  w^ho  loosed  the  wanderer's  bands; 
whose   house   I    made    the   desert, 
and    the    barren    waste    his    abodes? 
He  mocks  at  the  clamor  of  the  city; 
the   driver's  shouts  he  hears  not. 
The  range  of  the  mountains  is  his  pasture, 
and  he  searclies  after  every  green  thing. 

Will  the  wild-ox  be  willing  to  serve  thee, 
or   abide    at   thy    crib  ? 
Wilt  thou  bind  the  wild-ox  with  his  cord  in  the 

furrow, 
or  will  he  harrow  the  valleys  after  thee? 
Wilt    thou    trust    him    because    his    strength    is 

great, 
and    commit    to    him    thy    labors? 
Wilt  thou  believe  him,  that  he  will  bring  home 

thy  seed, 
and  gather  into  thy  threshing-floor? 


V.  3.  they  cast  out 
90 


JOB.  Chap,  xxxix. 


The  wing  of  the  ostrich  waves  exulting; 
with   pious   pinion    and   plumage? 
Nay,  she  abandons  her  eggs  to  the  earth, 
and   warms   them   in   the   dust; 
and  forgets  that  the  foot  may  crush  them, 
and  the  beast  of  the  field  trample  them. 
She  is  hard  towards  her  young,  as  not  her  own; 
in  vain   her   pains,    without   fear! 
For  God  has  made  her  forgetful  of  wisdom, 
and  given  her  no  share  in  understanding. 
When   she   lashes   herself  on    high, 
she  mocks  at  the  horse  and  his  rider. 

Dost  thou  give  strength  to  the  horse? 
dost  thou  clothe  his  neck  with  terror? 
Dost  thou  make  him  bound  like  the  locust? 
his   proud    snorting  is   terrible! 
They  paw  in  the  valley,  and  exult  in  strength; 
he    goes   forth    to   meet   the    weapon. 
He  mocks  at  fear,  and  is  not  dismayed; 
and   turns  not  back  for  the  sword. 
The    quiver   rattles    against   him, 
the   flaming   spear   and   the   dart. 
With  trembling  and  rage  he  swallows  the  ground; 
he  believes  not  that  it  is  the  trumpet's  voice! 


V.  13.  with  pinion  and  plumage  of  the  pious  bird  ? 
V.  14.  and  lets  them  be  warmed  in  the  dust 
91 


JOB.  Chap.  xl. 

With  every  trumpet  he  says:  Aha! 

and   scents    from    afar   the   battle, 

the  thunder  of  the  captains  and  the  shouting. 

By   thy  understanding   does  the  hawk  mount 
upward, 
spread   his  wings   toward   the   south  ? 
Or   soars   the   eagle   at   thy   command, 
and   builds   his   nest   on    high? 
The   rock   he   inhabits;    and   abides 
on  the  tooth  of  the  rock  and  the  stronghold. 
From    thence   he    searches   out   food; 
his   eyes   behold   afar   off. 
His   young   ones    suck   up    blood; 
and  where  the  slain  are,  there  is  he. 

And  Jehovah  answered  Job,  and  said: 
"Will  the  reprover  contend  with  the  Almighty? 
he  that  censures  God,  let  him  answer  it. 

And  Job  answered  Jehovah,  and  said : 
Behold,  I  am  vile;  what  shall  I  answer  thee? 
I   lay   my   hand   upon    my   mouth! 
I  have  spoken  once,  and  will  not  answer; 
and   twice,    but   I   will   not   again. 

Then  Jehovah  answered  Job  out  of  the  storm ; 
and  he  said : 


V.  27.  or  soars  the  vulture 
92 


JOB.  Chap.  xl. 

Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man; 
I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  inform  thou  me. 
Wilt   thou   even   annul   my   right? 
wilt   thou    condemn   me,    that    thou    mayest    be 

righteous  ? 
Or  hast  thou  an  arm  like  God; 
and  canst  thou  thunder  with  a  voice  like  him? 
Deck  thyself  now  with  grandeur  and  majesty, 
and  array  thyself  in  splendor  and  beauty. 
Send   out    the   floods    of  thy   wrath: 
and  behold  all  that  is  high,  and  abase  it. 
Behold  all  that  is  high,  and  bring  it  low; 
and  tread  down  the  wicked  in  their  place. 
Hide   them   in   the    dust  together; 
bind   up    their   faces   in    darkness. 
Then  I  too    will   praise   thee, 
that  thy  right  hand  can  save  thee! 

Behold   now  the  river-ox,  which  I  have  made 
with  thee; 
he   eateth   grass   like   the   herd. 
Behold  now  his  strength  in  his  loins, 
and  his  force  in  the  sinews  of  his  belly. 
He   bends   his   tail   like    a   cedar; 
the  sinews  of  his  thighs  are  knit  together. 


V.  8.  even  do  away  my  justice 
V.  12.  the  wicked  to  the  ground. 
93 


JOB.  Chap.  xli. 

His   bones   are   pipes   of  brass; 

his   bones    are   as   bars   of   iron. 

He  is  the  chief  of  the  ways  of  God; 

He  who  made  him  gives  his  sword. 

For   mountains   yield   him   produce, 

and  all  beasts  of  the  field  play  there. 

He   lies    down   beneath    the   lotuses; 

in    the   covert   of  reeds,    and   marshes. 

Lotuses   weave   for    him    his   shade; 

willows  of  the   brook  surround  him. 

Lo   the   stream   swells,   he   startles   not; 

is    fearless,    though    Jordan    rush    forth    to    his 

mouth. 
Before  his  eyes  do  they  take  him, 
pierce  through  the  nose  with  snares. 

Wilt    thou    draw    out    the    crocodile    with   a 

hook, 
and  press  down  his  tongue  with  a  cord? 
Wilt  thou  put  a  rush-cord  in  his  nose, 
and  bore  through  his  jaw  with  a  hook? 
Will  he  make  many  supplications  to  thee, 
or  will  he  speak  soft  things  to  thee? 
Will  he  make  a  covenant  with  thee? 
wilt  thou  take  him  for  a  servant  forever? 
Wilt  thou  play  with  him  as  with  a  bird, 
and   bind   him   for   thy   maidens? 

94 


JOB.  Chap.  xli. 


Will    partners    dig    a    pit   for    him, 
divide   him   among   the   merchants? 
Wilt   thou   fill   his   skin   with   darts, 
and   his    head    with   fish-spears? 
Lay    thy    hand    upon    him ! 
of   battle   thou    shalt   think  no  more. 

Lo,    his    hope    is    belied; 
is  he  cast  down  even  at  the  sight  of  him  ? 
None  so  fierce  that  he  will  rouse  him  up ! 
then  who  is  he  that  will  stand  before  me? 
Who  has  first  given  me,  that  I  should  repay? 
under  the  whole  heavens,  it  is  mine ! 

I  will  not  pass  his  limbs  in  silence, 
and  bruited  strength,  and  beauty  of  his  equipment. 
Who  has  uncovered  the  face  of  his  garment? 
his   double   jaws,    who    enters   in? 
The  doors  of  his  face  who  has  opened? 
the  circuits  of  his  teeth  are  terrible. 
The   strong   shields   are    a   pride; 
shut   with   a   close   seal. 
They   join   one   upon   another, 
and  no  breath  can  come  between  them. 
Each  is  attached  to  its  fellow, 
they  hold  fast  together,  and  cannot  be  sundered, 

V.  6.  Will  partners  bargain  for  him 

V.  14.  All  aroand  his  teeth  is  terror 

95 


JOB.  Chap.  xli. 

With  his  sneezings  shines  a  light; 

and  his  eyes  are  like  the  eyelids  of  the  morning. 

From   his   mouth   go   flames, 

and   sparks   of   fire   escape. 

From  his  nostrils  goes  forth  smoke, 

like  a  kettle  with  kindled  reeds. 

His   breath    enkindles   coals, 

and  flame  goes  forth  from  his  mouth. 

In   his   neck   abideth   strength, 

and   terror   dances   before   him. 

The  flakes  of  his  flesh  cleave  fast; 

firm  upon  him,  it  is  not  shaken. 

His   heart   is   firm   as   stone; 

yea,  firm  as  the  nether  mill-stone. 

At  his  rising  up  the  mighty  are  afraid; 

they   lose   themselves   for   terror. 

If  one  assail   him  with   the  sword,  it  shall  not 

hold; 
the  spear,  the  dart,  and  the  mail. 
Iron   he    accounts    as   straw; 
brass   as   rotten   wood. 
The  arrow  cannot  make  him  flee; 
to  him,  sling-stones  are  turned  to  chaff. 
Clubs  are  accounted  as  stubble; 
and  he  laughs  at  the  shaking  of  the  spear. 
Shard-points   are   under  him; 
he  spreads  a  threshing-sledge  over  the  mire. 

96 


JOB.  '    Chap.  xlii. 


He  causes  the  deep  to  boil  like  the  pot; 

he  makes  the  sea  like  a  pot  of  ointment. 

Behind  him  he  makes  a  glistening  path; 

one  would  think  the  deep  hoar  with  age. 

On  earth  there  is  none  that  rules  him; 

he  is  made  without  fear. 

He   looks   on   all   that   is   high; 

he,  the  king  over  all  the  sons  of  pride. 

Then  Job  answered  Jehovah,  and  said: 
I  know  that  thou  canst  do  all  things; 
and  from  thee  no  purpose  can  be  withheld. 
Who    is    this    that    obscures    counsel    without 

knowledge  ? 
I  have  therefore  uttered  what  I  understand  not; 
things  too  hard  for  me,  which  I  know  not. 
Hear  now,   and  I   will  speak; 
I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  inform  thou  me. 
I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear; 
but  now   my   eye   seeth   thee. 
Therefore   do   I   abhor  it, 
and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes. 

Now  after  Jehovah  had  spoken  these  words  to 
Job,  Jehovah  said  to  Eliphaz  the  Temanite:  My 
anger  is  kindled  against  thee,  and  against  thy  two 
friends;  because  ye  have  not  spoken  of  me  what 


V.  33.  There  is  none  like  him 
97 


JOB.  Chap.  xlii. 


is  right,  as  my  servant  Job.  Now  then,  take  ye 
seven  bullocks  and  seven  rams,  and  go  to  my 
servant  Job,  and  offer  up  a  burnt-offering  for  you. 
And  Job  my  servant  will  pray  for  you.  But  him 
will  I  accept,  that  I  visit  not  the  folly  upon  you ; 
for  ye  have  not  spoken  of  me  what  is  right,  as  my 
servant  Job. 

Then  went  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  and  Bildad 
the  Shuhite,  Zophar  the  Naamathite,  and  did  as 
Jehovah  had  spoken  to  them;  and  Jehovah  ac- 
cepted Job. 

And  Jehovah  turned  the  captivity  of  Job,  when 
he  prayed  for  his  friends.  And  Jehovah  increased 
all  that  Job  had,  twofold.  And  there  came  to  him 
all  his  brethren  and  all  his  sisters, and  all  who  be- 
fore had  known  him ;  and  they  ate  bread  with  him 
in  his  house,  and  mourned  with  him,  and  com- 
forted him  for  all  the  evil  which  Jehovah  had 
brought  upon  him.  And  they  gave  him  each  a 
kesita,  and  each  a  ring  of  gold. 

And  Jehovah  blessed  the  end  of  Job  more  than 
his  beginning.  And  he  had  fourteen  thousand 
sheep  and  goats,  and  six  thousand  camels,  and 
a  thousand  yoke  of  oxen,  and  a  thousand  she- 
asses.    And  he  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

V.  10.  restored  the  prosperity  of  Job 
98 


JOB.  Chap.  xlii. 


And  he  called  the  name  of  the  first  Jemima,  and 
the  name  of  the  second  Kezia,  and  the  name  of 
the  third  Keren-happuch.  And  there  were  found 
no  women  fair  as  the  daughters  of  Job,  in  all  the 
land;  and  their  father  gave  them  an  inheritance 
among  their  brethren. 

And  Job  lived,  after  this,  a  hundred  and  forty 
years;  and  he  saw  his  sons,  and  the  sons  of  his 
sons,  four  generations.  And  Job  died,  old  and  full 
of  days. 


